Thank you for all the birthday wishes yesterday. They were both appreciated and overwhelming.
A few highlights from the day:
One of my students gave me a box of chocolates, saying, “Happy birthday. You’re officially one year closer to your death.”
Another student said, “Happy birthday, Mr. Dicks. Enjoy your dwindling time left on this planet.”
Another said, “It’s International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, Mr. Dicks. Do you really need to steal their thunder with your silly little birthday?”
I looked it up. She was correct. Clever child.
Another student gave me a jar of fishheads, which can apparently be purchased in a retail outlet somewhere in the United States. When I looked closely and said that they didn’t exactly look like fishheads, she said, “Yeah, that jar is at least two years old. Probably older.”
Kids can be so sweet.
I’ve taught them well.
On a more positive note, I received many emails, videos, and in-person visits from former students, wishing me a happy birthday, notably absent any reminders of my future demise or any horrifying gifts.
I also received birthday wishes in many forms friends and family, colleagues, and even clients. Gifts, too. A great jacket, a shirt, and two beautiful cards from Elysha. Cards from my kids, too. A box of golf balls from a client. Treats from my colleagues. A lovely, handmade card signed by every student in my class and grudgingly tossed at me at the end of the day.
All fantastic.
Later, we celebrated as a family with dinner and shakes at the Bell City Diner in Bristol, which has become our go-to location for birthday celebrations.
But it’s those snarky, cutting, hilarious comments from my students (and a jar of decayed fish heads) that I will likely remember most from this year’s birthday because oftentimes, the most memorable moments in our lives are not the things we receive, the objects we possess, and the material goods that we accumulate, but the words that are said to us, the sentiments expressed, and the moments that are most unique.
My rotten students managed to be quite memorable yesterday.
I’m so very grateful.
