On Monday, November 18, I celebrate my 50th birthday. To commemorate the half-century, I have tried to look back and capture my fondest memories or most life-changing events.
The following list is not in order, although the subject of event #2 would likely have no problem believing she ranks after #1 and possibly as low as #5. She can be assured little of this would have nearly the meaning or significance to me without her presence for much of it.
- Had my sketch comedy performed at Second City Toronto
- Married an amazingly intelligent woman
- Interacted with a Henson puppet
- Saw Star Wars (you cannot overstate the impact of this on me)
- Wrote my first screenplay
- Met Nicholas Lemon, puppeteer, actor, friend
- Coached adult hockey (beer league but it was hockey)
- Performed stand-up comedy (never again)
- Discovered the Beatles (not saying I was first to)
- Was bylined in a magazine
- Wrote sketch comedy for a television show
- Attended Patrick Roy’s last game as a Montreal Canadien
- Watched a Habs game at the Forum and the Leafs at the Gardens
- Snorkeled in Barbados, Costa Rica and Hawaii
- Became friends with my brothers
- Was a scientist
- Performed improv on the Second City stage (as part of SC Training Centre…don’t want SC mad at me)
- Visited Chichin Itza
- Taught college/university students
- Owned a collie named Rebel
- Photographed orcas in British Columbia
- Went to Disneyland
- Attended the Austin Film Festival
- Met Chris Vogler, author of The Writer’s Journey
- Published my own magazine Aliquotes
- Experienced 9/11 from Washington, DC
- Impacted by murder of John Lennon
- Visited Iceland
- Played with ferrets
- Saw Shakespeare performed in Stratford, ON
- Eloped to and married in Algonquin Park
- Received spread in Globe & Mail from my PR efforts
- Saw George Carlin, Bill Cosby and Billy Connelly on stage (Gods)
- Skated on the Rideau Canal during Winterlude
- Eulogized my grandparents
- Traveled to both coasts with grandparents
- Had my heart broken
- Discovered bipedal locomotion (hey, it was the 60s)
- Watched the movie My Favorite Year
- Received an electric typewriter for Christmas
- Saw the crystal structure of the active site of a GTPase (it’s a geek thing, but beautiful)
- Watched the Toronto Marlies make the Calder Cup Finals (see also ‘heart broken’)
- Saw an ad I created on the Toronto Transit system
- Met Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits
- Discovered sex (again, not first; obviously, this list is not in order; strangely, Star Wars still ranks higher)
- Witnessed Toronto Varsity Blues win Vanier Cup on blocked last-second field goal attempt
- Rode in a submarine in Hawaii
- Did astral photography on a mountain top in Hawaii
- Birth (it meant a lot to me)
- Celebrated 40th birthday at pool hall with wonderful friends
createdbyrcw 