Six And Thirty

Once again, my birthday has me thinking about who I am and what I'm here to do. To be sure, I got my answer many months before this day.

In March, five ladies and one gentleman of KOLD gave me a makeover. They took me to a hair stylist and then to Kohl's for new duds. I got bags full of beauty aids and a new watch. I got a facial from one of our assignment editors who's a trained skin specialist. Everybody thought I looked better than ever, and with a new look, they took me out on the town.

We went to The Shanty, a moderately quiet bar, one I knew would be free of riffraff. Nobody stated any explicit goal. They didn't need to. People wanted to see me hooked up, therefore completing the transformation of an eccentric, geeky 10:00 news producer into a stylish ladies' man.

While we were at a table, enjoying brews, one of my colleagues tried to push me towards some girl at another table, one who looked like she was in no mood to mingle.

"She's angry and texting," he said, and somehow that made her approachable. What was he thinking? He kept pushing.

Finally, I got frustrated. "Then why don't you go over there?" I said.

That got some laughs. He couldn't. He was already taken. And true to my suspicions, she was too when her man or somebody else came over. Muscling into that situation would have led to certain disaster.

The others ordered more drinks, soaking themselves and laughing while I sat in near silence, stopping after my usual one bottle of Mike's Hard Lemonade. It wasn't happening. I knew it wouldn't.

I spotted other people wearing goofy St. Patrick's Day hats and couldn't help thinking of the smiles I would've gotten had I worn my tricorn that night -- anachronistic, out of style, weird, yet effective. The ladies love my three-cornered colonial hats. They always want to wear it or at least pose with it.

A few weeks later, I got what really needed. Again, I was out with friends. But instead of looking for love, they were looking to make sure I knew love. With prayers and encouragement, they gave me the makeover I really needed... a makeover for my soul.

I thank God for another year on this Earth, for all my friends and family, for all the Miracle Moments He has brought me. I ask forgiveness for the sins I commit as a member of the "media," a word people pronounce nowadays with a self-righteous spit. I ask for help. I still need it, but I know where to find it.

And if you see a person wearing a gold-trimmed tricorn hat today... that's me.