A Birthday Blessing
Atlanta, GA
June 10, 2021
Early last March, when the corona wave crossed the Pacific but had yet to become a tsunami, I was on the phone with my uncle George.
We both marveled at the rising reaction to the incoming flood, but were relieved to learn we were on high ground.
“I’m not too worried”, George said. “From what I’ve read, only older people are at significant risk. Sounds like any of us should be fine if we’re under 65.”
The phone quickly went quiet as my 68-year old uncle suddenly paused. He then continued, and “corrected” himself.
“I mean 70.”
Well…as of today, he needs to “correct” himself again.
But that shouldn’t be a problem. After years in and around politics, George is more than capable of spinning a seamless yarn from threadbare facts. After all, as he often puts it, why let the truth get in the way of a good story?
About George, there are far too many good stories to recount, tho’ (believe it or not) most of them are actually true. I recalled a few of them several years ago, on this date and in this space.
I could easily add more. But rather than (further) risk any future opportunities to mooch off someone who regularly gives us the roof over his head, I’ll mooch off myself, by replaying the reminiscences we’ve already released, and recycling that earlier birthday card:
A Touchy-Feely Roast of George Franklin
Meanwhile, we wish George a wonderful start to his eighth decade, and are sure he is counting the blessings accrued after his first seven.
Among them is one noted by the great baseball manager Casey Stengel who, when he was a septuagenarian like my uncle is today, reflected to an interviewer how lucky he was to still be coaching on this side of the grass.
An eternal optimist, Stengel always found the bright side, the silver lining, and the half full glass. He knew how fortunate he was, and that things could always be worse.
“Most people my age are dead now”, Stengel bragged to the reporter. “You can look it up.”
JD
