They say that age is just a number;

If that’s the case then once again

I’m in my prime!

So many numbers over time –

During my youth the 33s,

Fab Four, Take Five, and Three Dog Night

In my garage a 10-speed bike,

A Datsun B-210, and in the den

The piano’s eighty-eight

Keys to my happiness

Finding a (Stein)way

Into my DNA, with

23 (and me) more on my sax.

From 516 to 919 and back

Then 415 and 703 and 202 and 301,

From 1 to 2, from 2 to 5, from 5 to 7 to 8,

And soon one more.

The books devoured by the score,

The century of countries seen,

A thousand points of life from dear

Friends, some I’ve known for sixty years.

I count myself so fortunate,

There’s so much joy heaped on my plate,

I’ll end this here and help myself to cake.