OMG, I'm 40 Today! :-)

.....Well, technically, I'll be 40 at 7:16 PM, Pacific Time. :-)

.....I know that I sound a little surprised; and frankly, I am a little. When I look back on my 20's and very early 30's I recognize the fact that I did a LOT of stupid things that should have gotten me into a lot of trouble physically, mentally or legally. I have friends from that time who have died, or are recovering drug and/or alcohol addicts, and I count myself as pretty lucky.

......When I think of the rest of my family (especially now with last night's news) I see people who have no friends and a pretty bleak and gray life and I am truly thankful for what I have in mine. I have more friends in my life now than I have ever had in the past. I have friends who would literally give the proverbial shirt off of their back to make me happy or to help me if I were to get into trouble. And they have too.

.....When I had my surgery two years ago, Brighid and Cedric took me into their house without a second thought and took care of me until I could take care of myself (I still have fond memories of trying to explain why my SISTER wanted to leave the hospital room while I got dressed to go home :-)). Mistress Gwen and Richard continually invite me over and take care of me whenever I need help, or just need a friend. Inga Calle was a fantastic friend to me in my early SCA career and continues to support me. Whenever I need a friend with whom to laugh or share bad gossip, I call Catelin Spenser. Ralg and Ellen and Bernie and Tsuruko and Baron Sir Richard and Bjorn and Seamaus and others have always been there whenever I have needed help, with little warning and no expectation. And so many others that it would take me literally days to mention them all here. I love them all.

.....And, of course, the greatest gift of my life was given to me this past year. The Beloved Tamm stepped into my life. The most beautiful and wonderful person on the face of the planet. That alone is the greatest Brithday present I could receive ever, ever, ever.

.....So, the past 40 have been wonderful and the next 40 may have challenges, but they are looking pretty good themselves. :-)

.....My love to all my friends, both old and new. My birthday wish is that all of you have the happiest year of your lives for the next 365 and 1/4 days. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.

Update on Sean.

.....Looks like things are better than even I thought. Here is the story from the local paper:

"A collision involving a car and a bicycle at the south end of the Warren Avenue bridge Tuesday closed half the bridge to afternoon traffic for an hour and sent a man to the hospital.

Bremerton police initially believed the wreck at the south end of the bridge was a hit-and-run, initial reports said, but the driver called police and flagged down an officer shortly after the wreck, said Bremerton police Lt. Pete Fisher. No arrests have been made and the crash is still under investigation.

The bicyclist, a man, was taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton with injuries that were not life-threatening, Fisher said. The name of the man was not released.

The bicyclist and the car were traveling on the same side of the street when they collided, Fisher said. A witness told investigators that the car was traveling at about 40 mph, but Fisher said that witnesses usually overestimate speeds.

"Until we really do analysis of collision scene we don’t know what we have as a speed," Fisher said.

The crash was reported at about 3:45 p.m. A southbound lane and a northbound lane were closed for about an hour afterward for the investigation.

Copyright 2007, kitsapsun.com. All Rights Reserved"

.....Aaron.