Celebrating Life's Milestones: Birthday Reflections at 64

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Turning 64 recently prompted me to reflect on the birthdays that have left lasting impressions throughout my life. After a young DMV clerk kindly informed me this would be my last eight-year license renewal (apparently, I'll need more frequent eye checks going forward), I found myself diving into birthday memories sparked by a StoryWorth question from my daughter.

My 40th birthday stands out vividly – when friends crowded into our small family room to watch a surprise VHS montage my wife had created from photos of my life. That night echoed the sentiment from "It's a Wonderful Life" that no man is a failure who has friends. The thoughtful Skip Barber Racing School gift from my wife, which my brother joined me for, transformed the celebration from memorable to extraordinary.

The pattern of meaningful experiences over material gifts continued throughout the years – nearly catching one of Rod Stewart's soccer balls on my 50th, seeing the Eagles at Rupp Arena exactly 40 years after I'd first seen them there, celebrating with locals during a family trip to Haiti, and most recently, driving BMWs around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with my brother. These moments remind me that the most treasured gifts aren't things we can hold but experiences that stay with us forever.

Growing up in a family that celebrated birthdays with homemade cakes and gatherings (my dad and brother even share the same April birthday) instilled in me an appreciation for marking these personal milestones. What about you? What birthdays stand out in your life story? I'd love to hear your memorable celebrations – reach out anytime or share this episode with someone who might enjoy reflecting on their own birthday memories.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Dan the Road Trip Guy.
I'm your host, dan, and eachweek we'll embark on a new
adventure, discovering memoriesand life lessons of our
incredible guests, from everydaytravelers to thrill seekers and
everyone in between.
This podcast is your front rowseat to inspiring stories of
passion, resilience and thepursuit of happiness, so buckle

(00:23):
up and enjoy the ride.
Short episode today.
This past week, I celebrated abirthday, number 64.
I went to renew my license.
She goes four or eight years.
I said eight years.
She said this is the last timeyou can do it for eight years.

(00:44):
I looked at her.
She was a young lady.
I said oh, too old she goes.
Yeah, we need to check youreyes more often.
Okay, I'm good with that.
If you followed along on my lastshort episode about my first
job, you know that in 2023, forChristmas, my daughter Lauren
gave me the gift of StoryWorth.
You can find them atstoryworthcom.

(01:06):
She basically gave me 53questions to answer.
She knows I'm a big fan ofpeople's stories, so I'm hopeful
she just wanted some of mystories.
Since it was my birthday week,I thought I would go back to one
of her questions and maybeit'll make you think about your
birthdays.
Maybe you have great memories?
I hope you do.

(01:27):
The question was describe oneof your most memorable birthdays
.
Now, I could come up with a lotof memorable birthdays from my
childhood.
Here is how my story went.
I've had a lot of wonderfulbirthdays.
One that stands out was my 40th.
It seemed like a milestonebirthday.
I remember when I was a youngboy I thought people were really

(01:48):
old at 40.
I've changed my mind now that Ijust turned 64.
My wife went all out for my 40th.
She pulled a large number ofour friends together.
Our house at the time did notsupport the 20 or so people she
invited.
She had us all cram into oursmall family room.
It was actually a porch manyyears before that someone had

(02:11):
enclosed.
Our TV at that time is one thatshe and I had bought early in
our marriage.
It was a Sony TV.
It was heavy, not like todaywith the flat screens.
I'm guessing maybe it was 20,26 inches, I'm not sure I know.
One person couldn't pick it up.
It was too heavy.
I could not figure out whyshe'd crammed us all into this

(02:32):
tiny space.
We'd been enjoying ourselves inthe dining room, the living
room.
She proceeded to turn on the TVand start a video playing.
It was on a VHS back in thosedays.
I still have it.
She had gathered photos of mylife, including photos with
people who were in the room.
As I watched the video,memories flooded back in my mind
of my life.
There were pictures of friendsI had known for years, pictures

(02:55):
of family and pictures of me.
I was reminded of the finalscenes in A Wonderful Life, the
quote from Clarence the Angel.
In a wonderful life, the quotefrom Clarence the Angel.
Remember no man is a failurewho has friends, and I felt very
fortunate to have friendsaround me that night.
I received some nice gifts,some books and wonderful cards.
The one gift that I'll alwaysremember is the one Linda bought

(03:17):
me.
She was sending me to athree-day class at Skip Barber
Racing School at my favoritetrack, mid-ohio in Lexington,
ohio.
I then received a book from mybrother titled Going Faster, by
Skip Barber.
It contained a note that hewould be attending the class
also, which made it even better.

(03:37):
Another birthday weekend thatI'll always remember Linda and I
were in Chicago for my birthday.
I was 50 years old.
We wanted to do something forfun.
I did a quick search fortickets and found that Rod
Stewart was in town at the arena, I was able to snag two tickets
fairly close to the stage.
We had seen Rod on a number ofoccasions, but this one seemed

(03:58):
special with it being mybirthday.
You may know that Rod kicks outsoccer balls into the audience.
At least he used to.
I don't know if he still does.
I had never been close to onehe kicked, but this night I was
and I was within inches ofcatching the ball.
Actually, I think I touched itwith the tip of my finger.
At least that is the way Iremember it.

(04:19):
If any of you know Rod Stewart,maybe you could have him send
me a soccer ball.
I once spent my birthday inHaiti with my family,
celebrating with a large groupof Haitians, who made me feel
very special.
Another memorable birthday waswhen my wife took me to a Reds
game on my birthday, which was abucket list item for me to see
a baseball game on my birthday.

(04:40):
My wife knows that I preferexperiences over material things
, and I've already shared someof those memorable moments.
My 2019 birthday was anotherfantastic experience.
After having dinner with ourchildren, we were driving home.
She was driving when I decidedto check out concerts in our
area, I discovered that theEagles would be performing at

(05:00):
Rupp Arena in Lexington in April.
I had seen them in Rupp Arenaback in 1979 and I thought
wouldn't it be fun to see them40 years later.
When we got home, we enjoyedcake and ice cream.
Linda handed me a card I thinkI might have made some comment
about oh, just a card, andinside were two tickets to see
the Eagles.

(05:21):
It was an incredible surpriseand made my birthday
unforgettable.
In 2024, she surprised me onceagain with another amazing
experience.
She and my brother's wifegifted each of us a one-day BMW
M experience at the IndianapolisMotor Speedway.
I had the opportunity to spendthe day with my brother driving

(05:41):
BMWs on the iconic road courseat the Speedway.
It was an unforgettable day andmy brother and I had the time
of our lives.
It was a birthday I will neverforget.
I grew up in a home wherebirthdays were celebrated.
My parents and my brother shareApril birthdays.
Actually, my dad and brotherhave the same birthday.
My grandma would make the cakesOn many occasions.

(06:02):
Cousins and friends wouldgather around the table in the
small kitchen to celebrate.
I have enjoyed many birthdayswith my own family, which I hold
dear to my heart.
I hope you have wonderfulmemories of your birthdays.
Thank you for tuning in to Danthe Road Trip Guy.
I hope you enjoyed our journeytoday and the stories that were
shared.
If you have any thoughts orquestions or stories of your own

(06:23):
, I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out to meanytime.
Don't forget to share thispodcast with your friends and
family and help us to spread thejoy of road trips and great
conversations.
Until next time, keep driving,keep exploring and keep having
those amazing conversations.
Safe travels and remember youcan find me on the internet at

(06:44):
dantheroadtripguycom.