Today is my birthday! Just added another year. Some years back, a friend of mine called me on my birthday. "You're plus one today. Happy death day!" " What kind of compliment is that - wishing me happiness in a death day?" He laughed real hard then replied: "My friend, don't sound childish. Don't you know that every plus one day draws us closer to our graves? Of course, I wish you the best on this day of yours, my friend. However, at the same time, it works magic to remind ourselves that death is part of life. So, in celebrating life every year, we're invariably celebrating death." Well? Makes sense right? I thank all that have wished me happy birth/death day today, in my plus one.
What's striking about the day is how it started. My day started with a phone call from my cousin in a hospital facility at 12.14am. "Our son has come to earth!" he said in a joyous voice. "What time was he born?" I asked. "11.58pm." Two minutes to my day! Oh happy day! Here I was, stepping away in age and here this young life was, stepping into age! You can imagine how I celebrated life's paradox so early on my day... The next moment, I was on my way to work. Work on my birthday? Yes. For eight hours!
Don't know how my day will conclude. Don't really care. One thing is clear though, I've added one. With the arrival of that new life, life continues and rejoicing will be at its peak. My mother named me "Dumnamene" (Life is wealth). As long as there is life, as the sages say, there is hope. If there is hope, there should equally be rejoicing. My day has been filled with joy and rejoicing - for life and for death. For all those that have wished me the happiness of this day, I say Thank You. Rejoice with me and, "Don't worry. Be happy!" If your day is past rejoice. If your day is yet to come, rejoice too. Cheer up. We're still a crowd!
