A timely celebration

Today is my birthday. And no, I'm not doing the fake age thing again. 

As many of you recall, I fibbed about being 44 for about 20 years. I'm 66 today. And truth be told I don't like to make a big deal about how many times I've been around the sun. After all, as Ms. Muse often tells me, "Time is a construct."

She did however insist on throwing me a little soire in honor of my increasing geriatricity. Where we will naturally be playing this...

That is, if the Amazon Prime guy comes through with the last minute addition.

But today is also a more important birthday. 

Because it was 15 years ago today that I got an email from my friend, former boss, Syracuse alumni and generally all around great hirsute guy, Mark Monteiro. "Rich, I'm having a lot of fun with my blog Lost Angeles, you should give this blogging a try. You seem to have a lot on your mind."

And so I did. And yes I do.

That was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO! 

Life has thrown me a few curveballs since then. I even took a few fastballs to the head. And yet here I am. still cranking out posts. Still finding an outlet for my twisted thoughts. Still semi-amusing my 9 loyal Roundseventeen readers.

Is it a remarkable display of discipline? A testament to tenacity? A pathetic demonstration of self indulgence? Or a labor of love? I'd have to answer, "Yes." And I'm guessing my friend and fellow blogger, the man who speaks for so many of us in the ad industry, George Tannenbaum agrees. 

Advertising put food on my table, nice cars in my driveway, and a bevy of fat guy shirts and pants that no longer fit, in my closet. Writing this blog has given me what advertising never could. A sense of freedom, where nobody gives me feedback or chides me for typos. A platform. And an audience, albeit a non-paying one. 

I would hesitate to call myself an artist. But through the "art" of this crazy blogging routine, I have met so many great people, received so many kind words, and, dare I say, made many people smile and laugh. 

Perhaps my father, who would often tell me, "just study Accounting and get your CPA so you have something fall back on in case this writing thing doesn't work out", would finally approve?

There's a chance that 15 years from now, when I'm 81, I'll still be doing R17. 

Hopefully not from a dirty nursing home.

Thank you all for stopping by.