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Growing up the way I did and living the life I have lived and continue to live its safe to say I have and will continue to go against the norm. Average and content are words not in my vocabulary. Mundane and monotony scare the hell out of me and I’m only routine and disciplined in rituals I see fit for my lifestyle and in no one else’s. But for all intents and purposes, I honestly believe I am a traditional guy when it comes to the things that mean the most in life. Traditional in the ways of friendship, family and even though they have been few and far between for me, relationships. And I most certainly have my traditions and like most things in my life, they are changing with me.
If you know me personally or even if you have read this site the last six plus years then you know that there are two days out of the year that mean a lot to me. Patriot’s Day AKA Marathon Monday and my birthday. It’s well documented that I have partaken in Patriot’s Day for years and partaking in my birthday for…well…my entire life. Now while Patriot’s Day should be all about Boston and the marathon and my birthday should technically be about me, I always make sure it’s about my closest friends and family. MY tradition for both is to celebrate them. Celebrate what they mean to me. What we mean to each other. Two days out of the year nothing else matters to me. Work, writing, the craziness of what I get done in the average day goes out the window and I just celebrate with them. Sure in the past I have been known to celebrate a little too much, but hey that’s what it’s all about right? Throughout the years people have come and gone but the core has remained intact for Patriot’s Day. My birthday? Well the tables, bottles, young wannabe models at the club mixing in with my closest people have long stopped. I outgrew that years ago. What I do now on my birthday is eat lobster, BBQ, drink the best alcohol, eat some old school East Boston icebox cake handmade by my sister, laugh, reminisce and celebrate with my family. My family by blood and by lifelong loyalty. While I have outgrown some of my own traditions, I’ll never outgrow the people I love the most. Just like how I start to get excited a few weeks before Patriot’s Day, I get even more excited for my birthday. Not because of any special gifts that I may get, but because of the special people I have in my life. People change. Friends come and go. But some things stay and remain the same. This is what I mean by traditional change.
These are MY two personal traditions. But I love the holidays, birthdays, and annual events that those same people call their own traditions and that I’m also a part of. Their traditions are also changing me. I catch myself wanting to have holidays in my own future home one day. I’m looking forward to throwing birthday parties for my future kids. I can’t wait to go to my future wife’s favorite restaurant every year for her birthday. Traditions yet to even start for me. This is also what I mean by traditional change. I’m changing. So aren’t my traditions. And I couldn’t be any happier.
Until next time. Always take it there.
T
T-blawg 