Happy Birthday to me

Posted by george on February 10, 2009
Posted in: Writing. Tagged: , , . 31 comments

Wow.  Forty-freakin’-eight.

Maddy and me

Maddy and me

I guess I should be happy to have another birthday, considering the alternative ;-)

In most respects, just another day in front of the computer. Birthdays have been sort of a non-celebratory thing for me for about the last half dozen years.  Circumstances, I guess.  It’s not so much about time marching on.  Although I will say that turning 30 didn’t bother me at all, but I’m STILL pissed about turning forty.

In case you’re interested, here is a bulleted story of George:

  • Military brat.  Dad moved to the US by accident.  On his way to Australia from Edinburgh, he stopped in San Fran and it stuck.  He joined the US Air Force in the pipe and drum band.
  • Born in Wash DC in 1961.
  • Moved to Alaska when I was 4.  Stayed 4 years then off to New Hampshire with us, followed by a few years in Goose Bay, Labrador; UP Michigan; Taipei, Taiwan; Spokane Washington and ultimately back in Alaska.
  • I was bullied for my entire 7th grade by a jerk named Stephen Bishop.
  • I played trumpet in band.
  • My best memories of school were from Taiwan.
  • I moved to Los Angeles in 1979, went to school for Avionics but never worked in the field.
  • Started working in the Emergency Room at Santa Monica Hospital
  • Eventually went to Paramedic School and got hired by LAFD
  • Took bass guitar lessons for a while, met up with a great “Big Hair” band in the 80′s and worked as their stage manager.  Came “this close” to making it.  Had a great time and put entirely too much of my earnings up my nose.
  • Moved from So Cal in 1988 ’cause my dad was ill.  Back to Alaska with me.
  • Worked for the Alaska Railroad as a brakeman.
  • Worked security on the Alaska Pipeline
  • Got married in 1991 in my parents back yard – Dad performed the ceremony
  • Worked at a chemical munitions disposal plant on Johnston Atoll, 800 miles south of Hawaii
  • Opened and ran a very successful paramedic training program in Alaska
  • Got 2nd place in a literary competition for an EMS trade journal
  • Developed, wrote and named the newsletter for the National Association of EMS Educators
  • Presented at several national conferences
  • Developed a fear of flying – So I became a pilot.
  • Got to fly the MD-11 Simulator at the FedEx facility in Anchorage.
  • Finally had a child in 2003.  Madeline Skye Angus.  Best thing I ever did in my life.  Period.
  • Dad died on Valentines day in 2005
  • Two years ago on the day before my birthday, I found an email from my wife she sent to a co-worker professing her love to him.  I moved out of my house on my birthday.  We divorced.
  • I’m 48, I live with my girlfriend and have every other week with Maddy.  I’m trying to make my living with this writing blogging stuff and I’m not really making it.

So, there you have it.  Many milestones and trust me when I say I’ve just scratched the surface.

Thanks for coming by and visiting.  Always nice to see folks drop by.

31 comments on “Happy Birthday to me”

  3. Happy Birthday, George!

    Forty-freakin’-eight eh?

    Heck, I’ve known 48-year-olds who acted like they were 80! And then some (like you), who are childlike and playful. I’ll take your kind of 48 any day, George!

    Sounds like, from your bulleted bio, that you have way more stories to tell than the average George. And let me say that the best writers come laden with some of the deepest scars. They’ve been “there.”

    When you say you’re “not really making it,” be glad for the hard times, for it is in these hard times that the real breakthroughs occur, my friend. You are poised for greatness!

    Regards,

    Dxerguy

    Reply

  4. Tumblemoose,

    How long were you on Johnston Atoll? What did you do there? I lived there for almost seven years (March 1996 – December 2002) I was a Recreation Specialist. I took care of the pool, taught all the aquatics courses at the pool and also taught scuba diving on my own time.

    You can find plenty of us islanders on Facebook. Plenty of ex-island EMTs are on FB.

    Regards,
    Cliff Pryor

    Reply

  9. Wow, George, what a list of life events! Happy Birthday! :-)

    Sorry about your dad–and on Valentine’s Day… :-(

    Sounds like you’ve had a fantabulous, adventurous life!

    And, oh my goodness, your daughter’s name is GEORGEOUS! What a doll she is. ;-)

    Have a great one, George, and thanks for sharing your special day–and memories–with us!

    *smiles*
    Michele

    Michele´s last blog post..25 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Me

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  11. “Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.” ~Menachem Mendel Schneerson

    Happy Birthday, George……..and enjoy your new-found energy!!! :-)

    Laurie PK´s last blog post..6 Website and Blog Building Tips

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  12. Hey George; you’re 48? Wow, at least for the next year I’m gonna start callin’ you the “UPPER 48″! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

    I worked/lived in Hsin Chu, Taiwan for about 3 months or so back in 2000, and visited Taipei on weekends. Nice place – especially for Chinese New Year!

    Happy birthday to the “upper 48″ from Bob (in the lower 48)!

    Reply

  15. Hey Cliff,

    I was on Johnston in the Summer of 1995.

    I really did have a great time. Spent a lot of time doing heat monitoring in the “sphincter” What a crazy bunch of folks!

    George

    Reply

  24. Brian,

    You words mean a great deal to me, truly.

    The times at LAFD were some of the best in my life. A more professional and dedicated group of men and women are not to be found anywhere on earth.

    Best to all of LA’s Finest.

    George

    Reply

  31. A belated happy birthday George been offline for a few days. Wow you’ve lived, loved, and been deeply wounded. Bet you wouldn’t change things if you had the chance though. You see you got one of the greatest gifts you could ever have and that is your daughter. Regarding your writing, you really do have a gift, your post is a beautiful one and an honest one and that is what makes people want to read what you write. You’ll have a great story to tell when the time is right.

    Amanda Evans´s last blog post..Content Writing Is A Waste Of Time

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