Its not the rings on my tree…

Did you know the age of trees can be determined by their tree-ring date? The more rings on the tree, the older it is.

This Sunday I get a new ring.

I am not concerned about my rings…at all. I am more concerned about my roots, branches and leaves.  I’m looking forward to a simple celebration, one that is light on the material and heavy on the meaningful.

Roots: I am going to celebrate with my wife.  Full stop. Right there, that is enough for me. But, I am also going to think of my familiy back home in the States. 

Branches: I have some good friends here that I am going to celebrate with as well.  I’ll be tapping toes and popping tops with the fellas down at the record shop as well as my other fellow music loving freaks. I have made many, many good friends through my love of music (see here for my collection…95% Fat Free).

Leaves: The leaves…?  The leaves are my interests that make me, me.  On a gusty day the leaves start jumpin and swaying. A big wind is blowing into Sydney this weekend: Booker T. Jones is playing with the Drive-By Truckers backing him up.  Booker T. is a legend. He and the MGs held the beat for a generation of natural soul senders; artists and fans alike. The DBTs ain’t no window dressing either. Booker T & The DBTs on my birthday weekend…a full force gail.

So, if I were a tree, I wouldn’t be counting my rings. Roots, branches and leaves…that’s the plan. Just for kicks…If I was a tree, I would be a Elm. Why not. I’m from Keene NH…”The Elm City”. 

On a sidenote…I always play a particular Johnny Cash song on my birthday: “Old Chunk of Coal“.

Johnny Cash was a tree.  He was a Mighty Oak.