BennyEast.Com/Blog The official blog of Kenny West

Get It When You Get There In Life

So, today is my birthday... Woo.  35.  Eh, just another day as far as I'm concerned.

I was chatting with someone who was going on and on about holidays and birthdays and whatever... I tried to explain that when you don't have one or both parents... They aren't joyful days, they are painful, and you just kind of count the minutes until it's over.

They were all like, "But I LOVE holidays and birthdays!"

I was like... "Okay, question, are both your parents living?"

They were like, "Yes, but I don't see what difference that makes."

I was like, "Let's put this conversation on pause.  When you lose one or both of your parents... Come back and tell me how you feel."

They said, "Okay.  But I think I'll still feel the same as I do now about holidays and birthdays."

I said, "You'll get it when you get there in life."

It's just something that people with living parents can't understand until their parents pass.  And you try to explain it to them, but there's no possible way to do that.

There are two types of people... Those who have lost a parent or both, and those who haven't.  Those who have, get it, those who haven't... Maintain that "Holidays are great!  Birthdays are awesome!  Why would my parents not being around change anything?"

It does though.  It's not their fault though... To be fair... I was one of those people who had no clue.  I was on that side of the fence.  And now I do.  It's just something you don't get until you are at that place in life.  And then you get it.  Anyways... A birthday is just another day.  Hopefully it goes quickly.

I do have some plans for the night... But to be honest, it's mostly just an excuse to drink some good beer to raise some money for a good cause.  I feel like you can't go wrong throwing back a couple cold ones and having the proceeds go towards a charitable cause.