Clan Cornelius executed as perfect a birthday as I ever expect to enjoy this weekend. Yeah, I turned 57 as of November 6. I got a rather stark reminder of this when I upgraded the tracking device phone and the tech feller urged me to sign up for AARP to get all the discounts membership provides. I’ve been ignoring that outfit for some time, but a plew is a plew, so now I’m officially a member. What the hell?
That’s all by-the-by. I took advantage of a break in our blustery weather to get in a vigorous Frontier Partisan Biathlon, and did some work on the Vasquez episode — then we hied off down to Bend for dinner at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. As I mentioned in my post on the Billy Raid, the McMenamin Brothers repurpose old and often decrepit community landmarks into pub/hotel/venue complexes — with great food and a great vibe. This one, as the name indicates, was Bend’s Catholic school for decades. Now it’s a labyrinth of bars, a restaurant, a movie theater, a Turkish Bath… and …
After dinner, we adjourned to Hugh O’Kane’s a dark hole-in-the-wall of a cigar bar, featuring Grateful Dead music, a potbellied stove that could heat up hell’s hinges, and… cigars.
This sublime place is named for a 300-pound Irishman who built what is still the largest commercial building in Bend in 1916. Thanks to Bend Ghost Tours, I am now aware that the building is considered quite haunted.
As we sent up our celebratory smoke signals, Lady Marilyn surprised me with a fine blade.
It’s a custom piece by Steve Goddard of Eugene, inspired by but not a copy of the Hudson’s Bay Camp Knife — a Fur Trade work horse. I spotted the knife at the gun & knife show last weekend and fell under an enchantment. And Lady Marilyn did a thing, because that’s how she rolls. It wasn’t a secret, exactly, but I was told that I was not to tread into the territory of Badass Santa. And here it appears on my birthday… Well played, Lady Marilyn.
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As you know, I love those old Scottish and Irish ballads that crossed the sea to form the foundations of country music. I especially like the dark ones, of which there are a-plenty. You know, the Celtic thing — as Chesterton said of the Gaels of Ireland, “all their wars are merry and all their songs are sad.” Being the inveterate “themer” that I am, I passed our blustery Friday listening to variations on Oh, The Dreadful Wind & Rain. That led me to the traditional recordings of Jody Stecher, which resonate right down to the bones… You know… like finger bones that get made into fiddle pegs…
Stecher recorded with Alasdair Fraser long and long ago…
Matthew says
Happy Birthday!
Chuck says
In continuing your theme, co-là breith sona dhut! Tapadh leat for the musical suggestions as well! You got me hooked on Saor Patrol a few years back. Now bagpipes, drums and Gaelic folks songs are regularly played as I fiddle with leatherwork, hit the gym, and enjoy a bowl of tobacco in my pipe! Last night I came across (again?) the Gaelic version of the Sky Boat song arranged by Bear McCreary and performed by Griogaor Labhraidh. Well done piece.
Slàinte mhath a dhut!
JimC says
This pleases me greatly. The campfire is achieving its purpose…
Thank you.
Quixotic Mainer says
Happy Birthday! That looked like a fantastic day.
JimC says
Thank you. It was.
Jerry N says
Sorry for the late birthday accolades. Looks like you had a fine time! I’m sorry I missed that cigar bar the last time I was in Bend.
Jean Nave says
Happy birthday. Remember, you’re only as old as you think you are. I’m living proof that you can do a lot of age reversal by how your think. Think love and kindness for all and you’ll get younger.
JimC says
Thanks Jean.
David Wrolson says
Happy Birthday. I am almost exactly 10 months younger than you and I have successfully resisted the allure of the AARP plews.
Don’t take this personally, but I would (in my case) regard it as a sign of giving up.
I have an acquaintance of my age who stepped into a very lucrative farming situation and really didn’t have to add much value to keep it on auto-pilot. Now, with no kids interested in farming he is retiring and this is his last year.
Hell, I came through the fire financially and emotionally and I am not ready to give up-er I mean retire.
Even if I didn’t have kids interested-I have been through too much to hang things up yet.
It was fun about 10 years ago to purchase another 40 acres and take on a little rented land that a neighbor offered me. I was like-“Hey, I am telling people that I am alive and kicking and a force to be reckoned with.”
Anyway, that is why it will be awhile before I take the AARP plews.
JimC says
Thanks David. I have NO interest in “retirement.” I’ll live and die a storyteller and a woods runner, no matter what I’m doing to pay the bills.
Ugly Hombre says
Happy Birthday! (late)
Yer still a relative youngster and in very good shape so your biological age is about 29 chronological age don’t count.
Don’t tell people who ask you how chrono. “old” you are- just tell them..
“I am a level 5.” etc. confuses the G.D. hell out of them. lol
Many More!
JimC says
I love that. Always wrong-foot ’em!