My Father took it upon himself to remind everyone in our family when a birthday was imminent. It went something like this, “Your Sister’s birthday is on Wednesday, don’t forget to call her!” This would be repeated, as necessary, throughout the year. Thank goodness we have a small family. I am not sure at what age this little “poke to the ribs” became an irritant. But it did. And soon enough I was able to reply to his reminder, “Dad, I know whenLynn’s Birthday is… you don’t have to remind me.”
Did that stop him? No. Maybe reminding us was a way to help Dad remind himself? Or maybe it was just a quirky superstition?
We lost our Family Reminder in 1983. After he passed away, who was there to pick up the baton?
Well, I ain’t superstitious, black cat just cross my trail
Well, I ain’t superstitious, oh the black cat just cross my trail
Don’t sweep me with no broom, I might get put in jail
My brother and I are pretty good about this birthday stuff. I have the good fortune of being born on a momentous national holiday… February 2. Paul’s birthday falls 9 days later on February 11 (this lead to a longstanding inside joke: “can you name two great Americans born in February other than Paul and Jim Winston?”).
The problem could arise withLynn. Although, she too, is born on a national holiday… October 31.
When my right hand itches, I gets money for sure
When my right hand itches, I gets money for sure
But, when my left eye jumps, somebody’s got to go
I worked it out in 1984. “Hi Lynn… it’s Jimmy. Dad asked me to give you a call and remind you that it’s my birthday next week… so don’t forget to give me a call!” See? Simple problem, simple solution.
Well, I ain’t superstitious, black cat just cross my trail
Well, I ain’t superstitious, black cat just cross my trail
Don’t sweep me with no broom, I just might get put in jail
Lynn understood the importance of this exercise… and she had no trouble falling in line, “Hi Jimmy… it’sLynn… I’m calling to remind you that it is my birthday next week, and I want you to give me a call.”
And that’s the way it goes. Although sometimes Lynn travels to distant lands around our birthdays and it becomes necessary to make appropriate adjustments, such as… “Jimmy, Alan and I are going to the Vaticanto meet with the Rabbinical Ambassador to the Holy See and I might miss your reminder call about your birthday… so please remind me no later than January 15th.”
We call that a reminder to the reminder. (Dad would be proud of this innovation)
Well, the dogs are howlin, all over the neighborhood
Whoa, the dogs are howlin, all over the neighborhood
That is true sign of death, baby, that ain’t no good
But something is astir in the cosmos. This year I began receiving calls far earlier than expected… Paul rang in 2 days early. Lynncalled before I had the chance to remind her. It didn’t stop there. I got an early gift fromSandy… a jar of gooseberry conserves (also an inside joke, I have been looking for gooseberry jam for years… I don’t even know if I will like it… but I use gooseberry to describe the wonderful scent of Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre). And the icing on the cake came yesterday when I got an early happy birthday email from Ellen!
Well, I’m not superstitious, blow that black cat across my trail
Well, I’m not superstitious, a black cat across my trail
Don’t sweep me with no broom, I just might get put in jail
Why all this early stuff? Did folks know something that I didn’t? Like… better call now, because Jim might not make it to February 2! So… last night, “erev’’ my birthday, after my 4th Wild Turkey on the rocks, failing to see a dark figure in a black shroud pointing in my direction… I paid my tab at Ash Creek Saloon and headed for home.
Me? Superstitious? Not really… but belated greetings are looking better and better.