January 22, 2006
41
So I wake up this morning, 7:15 AM, Sunday morning, January 22, 2006, and my wife has been patiently watching me sleep, waiting for the moment I open my eyes.
"Happy Birthday, mi Rey" she says to me, smiling from ear to ear.
"Gracias, mi Reina" I say as I hug my wife and get my special birthday kiss.
I am, indeed, blessed to have such a wonderful woman sharing my life.
I walk over to my computer as I do every morning and check my email.
Among a few Happy Birthday emails, there's one from a Jim Franey, with the following mesage:
Chavez and Castro know that there are no Dictatorships without weapons.So does Pres. Bush! Its funny left wing, right wing. There all the same! Power is the name of the game. Thank God we had weapons during our revolutionary war!
Your a nitwit Babalu but you do babble !
Ordinarily, I might have been a bit peeved. I might have responded. Gotten into yet another dick swinging contest against someone with a lot less leverage than me.
But not today. It's my birthday.
Forty-one years ago, my father gave the doctor that delivered me a bucket of lard and a guanajo, a turkey, as payment for the hours he spent bringing me into this world while ensuring that my mother would be fine.
Thirty-seven years ago, my father gave me the opportunity of enjoying my birthdays in freedom by exiling his family to the United States of America. It may have been in October of 1968, but it has been the best birthday present anyone could ever give or wish to receive.
This 41 year old nitwit loves his life.
My wife calls me her King. She is my Queen.
My dog loves me and never leaves my side.
I am my mother's niño lindo and my father's source of pride.
I was my grandparents "Primo" and the recipient of their love and knowledge and affection.
I am my nieces' and nephew's Uncle, my sister's brother and my family's Valen.
I've been chosen by many to be their friend.
I live in the United States of America and I am free.
And I am a Cuban with the liberty to know and speak the truth.
What more could any birthday nitwit ask for?
Posted by Val Prieto at January 22, 2006 08:19 AM
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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference 41:
» Happy Birthday, Tio Val!! from Brandon's Puppy
Happy birthday, Tio! I love you!... [Read More]
Tracked on January 22, 2006 08:27 AM
» Feliz Cumpleaños from Dean's World
One of the very best bloggers I know, a true opponent of tyranny everywhere, Val Prieto turns 41 years young today.
One day soon, we celebrate days like this in...
[Read More]Tracked on January 22, 2006 08:50 AM
» Feliz Cumpleaños from Dean's World
One of the very best bloggers I know, a true opponent of tyranny everywhere, Val Prieto turns 41 years young today.
One day soon, we celebrate days like this in...
[Read More]Tracked on January 22, 2006 08:50 AM
» Happy Birthday from Accidental Verbosity
To Val Prieto, who is an understandably happy 41 today.
Tracked on January 22, 2006 09:20 AM
» Happy Birthday, Val from aaron
My birthday wish for Val, a blast from my photoshopping past. As I’m 43 and Val is now 41, we are both primed* for this:
Castro’s head on a platter. May it come speedily and in our days.
*Get it, prime numbers?
... [Read More]
Tracked on January 22, 2006 05:38 PM
» Happy Birthday, Babalublog! from The Dead Pool
Today is Val's birthday and to celebrate, I'm going to devote today's obligatory post to someone we both hope earns me lots of Dead Pool points, Fidel Castro. When I'm king, I'll authorize free assaults on anyone who wears a... [Read More]
Tracked on January 22, 2006 09:37 PM
Comments
Happy Birthday Val!
Posted by: George at January 22, 2006 08:25 AM
Happy Birthday Val - you forgot one thing - you're a Cuban living in free in America - helping other Americans learn about your island. Thanks.
Posted by: Kathleen A at January 22, 2006 08:34 AM
Happy Birthday, and thank you for expressing your thoughts so beautifully.
Posted by: Marc at January 22, 2006 08:34 AM
Happy Birthday Val!
Nice piece!! How wonderful and blessed you are! Not too many can say that they know where they came from, where they are today; and where they are heading (con la ayuda de Dios)!! Bravo! Mucha salud y bienestar a ti y a los tuyos! I wish you well :) Melek
Posted by: melek at January 22, 2006 08:56 AM
Happy Birthday you old bastard! Won't be long before that lovely wife is pushing your wheelchair around man camp ;)
Posted by: Sgt Hook at January 22, 2006 08:57 AM
Felicidades, Val!
Un caluroso abrazo desde la fr'igida Maryland!
(I send you a warm embrace from freezing Maryland).
How I wish I could be in Miami today, to help you and la Reina celebrate. I'll be at ManCamp in spirit and lift an adult beverage in your honor at ManCamp-Maryland.
Welcome to your fifth decade of life in freedom!
JulioZ
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at January 22, 2006 09:04 AM
Happy Birthday Val! For some reason, my birthdays on which my age is a prime number have been some of the most fun, so I hope it's true for you too!
Posted by: Scott at January 22, 2006 09:21 AM
Someone called you "old." I wish I was 41 again. I stopped celebrating birthdays at 40.
Posted by: delaCova at January 22, 2006 09:44 AM
Feliz cumpleanos , Val!
Posted by: Stefania at January 22, 2006 10:03 AM
Happy Birthday Val! You certainly are blessed.
Have a great day!
Posted by: Robert at January 22, 2006 10:19 AM
Happy Birthday, amigo!
Posted by: homebru at January 22, 2006 10:25 AM
Happy birthday, friend!
Forty-one!?!?! Mere puppy!
Enjoy your life and love, and I wish you many more happy years!
MC
Posted by: mostly cajun at January 22, 2006 11:24 AM
You're young yet! Happy Birthday!
Posted by: j.scott barnard at January 22, 2006 11:44 AM
Happy, Happy Birthday friend, our lives are brighter thanks to that great heart of yours. Have a great day celebrating you with those you love. Ziva
Posted by: ziva at January 22, 2006 11:58 AM
Val, with a bow to Marisela Verena...
Brindo porque logres lo que anhelas
Brindo por [tu] sed de libertad
Que la suerte sople en [tus] velas
Brindo por [tu] vida y [tu] amistad.
And remember
Cuid[a] mucho más la piel de adentro
Que es la que no debe envejecer
Happy XLI!
Posted by: Miguel-O-Matic at January 22, 2006 12:26 PM
Happy Birthday Val,
Skip the lard, but have a turkey sandwich and celebrate.
Posted by: Ronny Delgado at January 22, 2006 12:35 PM
Felicidades Val en tu dia
que lo pases con sana alegria,
muchos años de paz y armonia
felicidad felicidad felicidad.
Un abrazo grande
Posted by: Songuacassal at January 22, 2006 12:38 PM
And Happy Birthday from me, one of many frequent visitors to your blog.
Felicidades y mucha salud !
Posted by: dariusz at January 22, 2006 01:18 PM
Val, my warmest wishes and Happy Birthday.
-¡Qué encanto tienen los cabellos blancos! Parece que vienen de lo alto lo que viene de ellos. Jose Martí.
Posted by: Orlando at January 22, 2006 01:43 PM
May your next b-day be in a free Cuba!
If that happens, you will probably be a significant reason why because you helped bring out the truth.
Posted by: Max at January 22, 2006 01:52 PM
Feliz cumpleanos! y bastante mas
Posted by: caltechgirl at January 22, 2006 02:07 PM
Val,
Here's a little birthday present:
Parade Magazine, the Sunday supplement that is published by a heap of newspapers all over the nation and is reputed to circulate to something like 30 million people, has a cover story today called "Who is the World's Worst Dictator?"
There are 14 mug shots on the cover, including you-know-who, the "maximum criminal" of the Caribbean.
A funny thing, though, is that he is not in the top ten... he occupies the 15th place, down from last year's ranking of 13. And the author dedicates a mere four lines to him, whereas those in the top ten get a much meatier paragraph or two.
The decrepit tiranosaurius maximus can't even hold on to that dubious ranking. It's probably the fault of the embargo.
Sorry about that.
Happy birthday, Valent'in!
JulioZ
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at January 22, 2006 02:17 PM
I saw that article in Parade as well. For sure, there are some real tyrants in there. But Fidel is as tyrannical as any of them.
It could also be argued Chavez belongs in the list as well.
Posted by: Max at January 22, 2006 02:21 PM
Happy Birthday Val!!! May you celebrate many more in a Free Cuba !
Posted by: Jose Aguirre at January 22, 2006 02:57 PM
Val,
Felicidades, my friend. You share your birthday with my best friend, Diane. It's my aunt and uncle's anniversary too. I'm so happy to add you to the list of why Jan. 22nd is such a great day! Que la pases bien!
Posted by: Chantel at January 22, 2006 02:57 PM
Happy Birthday!
With wishes for many more.
Posted by: aelfheld at January 22, 2006 03:09 PM
Happy Birthday! And many happy returns of the day.
Posted by: Kathy K at January 22, 2006 03:17 PM
Feliz cumple, Val!
Y el 42 en La Habana?
Posted by: Eleggua at January 22, 2006 04:20 PM
Happy Birthday, Val! ...and many more.
Leave it to you to write your own, most awesome birthday card.
Speaking of freedom, you may enjoy this exchange between LTC Amar of the ING and our own Maj. Mary Prophit: "Then he asked a question that almost brought me to tears. He asked us, “Your freedom, the freedom that you have in America, can you feel it? – is it something you can feel inside of you?” I immediately answered “Yes, I feel it very strongly.”" (from http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/operation-iraqi-children-a-bright-shining-hope.htm)
Posted by: FL Mom at January 22, 2006 04:22 PM
!Feliz cumpleanos!
41....what vague, distant memories......
May this be your best year yet.
All the best to you and your Queen.
Posted by: hunter at January 22, 2006 04:41 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: ThassOk at January 22, 2006 04:43 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: La Ventanita at January 22, 2006 05:10 PM
What more could you ask for?
As I mentioned on HOI, "Castro's head on a platter."
Oh, hell, throw in Hugo Chavez', too.
And if you're feeling magnanimous, sire, throw in every green and yellow bandana-wearing and black keffiyeh loving dhimmicidal bastid for me.
Posted by: Aaron's cc: at January 22, 2006 05:50 PM
May this year bring you - and my Cuban brothers and sisters - what you want most. Hats off to the best blog - bar none.
Un amigo Boricua.
Posted by: carlos rivas at January 22, 2006 07:40 PM
Oye Happy Birthday Val, que lo pase bien. And the year keep coming.
Posted by: Felix Ricardo at January 22, 2006 08:01 PM
We love you, Val! Happy Happy Happy Birthday! May it be the last one with fidel alive. It will happen one of these birthdays. Cheers!
Next Year In Havana!
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at January 22, 2006 08:06 PM
Val, for your birthday, pick a product from my line or from the design I just made today to celebrate your birthday.
I can get a storekeeper's price and will ship it to you directly. It's the least I can do for all your referrals to my shop.
Posted by: Aaron's cc: at January 22, 2006 08:10 PM
Happy Birthday, Val!
Posted by: D.C. Thornton at January 22, 2006 08:10 PM
The measure of a man can be found in the love he has for his family, friends and freedoms.
And of they, for him.
Val, you sir, are a man beyond measure.
Happy birthday, and many, many more.
Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Posted by: Jim at January 22, 2006 08:25 PM
val -
felicidades. hope you had a great one.
tony
Posted by: tony v at January 22, 2006 11:18 PM
Happy birthday, Val, and many more!
Posted by: Dave J at January 23, 2006 02:07 AM
Happy happy birthday !!
Next year in Havana :)
Posted by: Fiamma at January 23, 2006 02:56 AM
Falicidades, Val!
...ahh...to be 41 again. I ran with the bulls in Pamplona when I was 43 after a hangover and two hours sleep, so don't whine compadre...enjoy your life...carpe diem!
Posted by: Pat at January 23, 2006 08:58 PM
Happy Birthday, Val!!! May you have many more birthdays as awesome as this one!
Posted by: Verity Kindle at January 25, 2006 12:50 AM
