Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii


I’ve been thinking some about the significance of birthdays. Their meaning, what omens they might portend, and the fact that I seem to be accumulating ever more of them.

For a long time, I’ve made a point of fleeing the country during mine. A February birthday is one of life’s little jokes. Happy birthday, here’s some sleet. And maybe a side order of existential dread. Last year, I spent the big day chasing lizards in South Africa. Other years have been spent sweating through Kalahari lightning storms, shunning prostitutes in Manila and cruising New Zealand’s fjords. This year the arrival of my baby brother’s text message, “Wow, you’re sure old...” woke me from a sound sleep in Kona, Hawaii.

I looked at the message on my phone, sighed and then took a snapshot of the palm trees outside my patio at dawn, sending the picture back as my reply. I may be getting older, but by God I’m going to do it with a tan.

8 comments:

Ariel Bravy said...

lol, happy birthday Paul and it's great to hear you're aging in style!

fnord said...

Well, I read somewhere:
Birthdays are good for you...
...the more you have them, the longer you live!
Happy birthday!

Carryou Ministry said...

Great attitude! Happy birthday.
~Hilton~
www.thelightstuff.blogspot.com
A photojournalist's musings mainly about photography.

MushuThaLohari said...

Celebrating your birthday with a style, I see. Not bad.

Happy, happy birthday! May the coming years be full of exciting encounters, beautiful moments and breath taking photographs! (:

David Hobby said...

That's a really nice photo, you know, for an old guy...

Paul Souders said...

Aw shucks. Thanks folks. I'm at the airport in Honolulu, waiting to catch my flight to Sydney. Three weeks down under, cruising in a rental car. We'll see what I can find.

HandE Graphix said...

Wow. Down Under eh? I'll be watching for more pictures.

bluelola said...

I believe you did more than just work on your tan...what a nice view...