Today is Thinkling Kenny's Birthday.
Happy Birthday Man!
I have been telling people for years...and I'll say it again, don't think of it as "getting older". I don't even know how old you are. It's just a number. So what.
Instead, think of it as the day that the world (well, at least your family and friends) celebrate the anniversary of your arrival in the world.
So today is Kenny Panduku day. (pronounced "Pan-DUKE") The day the rest of us pause for a moment and say...
Kenny, we're glad we know you. We're better off for knowing you. Thank you for being my friend. And thank you for being you.
Kenny and his wife Anna are far away (mileage wise) from my wife and I now. And frankly, we miss them. Kenny and his wife used to come over to our apartment and hang out...all the time. We had a weekly ritual of watching X-files together. And our conversations...can't be duplicated. The four of us could say things...well, that you couldn't say anywhere else. I still remember Anna's classic quote that summed it all up..."We're all friends here, right?"
Kenny is one of those unique individuals who is a brilliant, compassionate thinker and a regular guy at the same time. You can laugh your head off with him one minute, and then talk about the deepest truths of the universe in the next. I'll bet he's a great dad. I wish I could be a fly on the wall at their house.
I could go on and on...but here's my two-fold point:
1. Kenny, I love you man. Happy Kenny-Day!
2. We should all pause at least once a year and pay tribute to our friends. They are a gift from God.
- C.S. Lewis
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/2272.
Phil, you rule! Thanks dude. I am 30 by the way and my family really rocked a good day.
By the way, Anna still says that although not as often as she did at your house. We miss you guys too. Again, thanks for the tribute.
Kenny,
I was beginning to wonder if you would actually read this! :) I'm glad you did. (I think this fantastic and important post got usurped. ;-)
Happy Kenny day!
Oh I love the word usurped and will never forget my first hearing of it.
And I'll never forget your infectious laugh when you heard it. You're the best man.
For those reading and thinking "huh?"
During one of our many dinner table conversations, I used the word "usurped" in a sentence. I still can hear Kenny's laugh, and through his laughter he said, "I can't believe you actually said "usurped".
In case you are wondering why that's funny....I guess you had to be there, but I guess it comes from us all having words we see, read and know, but no one actually uses those words in actual conversation. I used one. And it made Kenny laugh. And his laugh made us all laugh.
Ain't friendship grand?
Kenny,
I don't know ya but happy birthday anyway!