Today would have been John’s 78th
birthday. Happy Birthday John, wherever you are. It’s going to be a little
strange (would have been anyway with the pandemic) not going out to dinner,
making a cake or wrapping presents. It’s the first birthday since John turned
23 that we haven’t been together to celebrate his presence in the world. I, in
fact, found the story I’d wrote for him for his 23rd birthday. Here
it is:
Once upon a long time ago, if you
measure the years by old Father Time’s calendar; a short time ago if you measure by the many adventures and
experiences one must cram into the short space known as a lifetime, there was a
man, a woman and a girlchild who all lived together under the name of Karlberg.
They lived in a town known as Seattle and were quite happy.
Then one day, a weary traveler and
rather friendly old bird stopped to rest at their home. He went by the name of
Mr. Stork. His stop was of no importance, or so they thought, but they made him
welcome just the same. Only after he had continued upon his travels did they
realize that their lives had been lacking something.
You see, this Mr. Stork had a rather
bad habit in that his memory was poor and he often times left a home without
packing all his belongings. To add to the confusion, his packsack was magical
in that it could replace whatever Mr. Stork forgot immediately upon the
resumption of his journey. It was a good thing too, because he left at least
one of his possessions in each home at which he stopped. So, Mr. Stork
continued upon his merry way, stopping here and there, forgetting this and that
and making many friends—depending upon your point of view, of course.
Soon after his departure, the
Karlbergs discovered what a valuable possession their odd visitor had left
behind and realized immediately that there was little chance of ever finding
the odd old bird or of returning what they had decided must be a boybaby. So,
they decided to make him a part of their family unit which was eventually
completed some years later with the addition of another girl.
The Karlbergs decided to call him John
Hjalmer and included their family name of Karlberg also to make it complete.
Then, too, this would aid them in identifying him if he were ever lost. They
did, as you see, realize what a valuable possession they had acquired and took
all the necessary precautions to ensure his safety and security.
Johnny, as he was called, soon
captivated all those who came in contact with him. First, he was tiny, warm,
soft, and cuddly. Everyone loved to hold him and love him. In addition, he had
big golden-brown eyes which laughed and flirted—especially with the women—from beneath
reddish-blond eyebrows. His mouth smiled often, his skin was fair and sweet,
and his hair gleamed a red-gold. Indeed, he was a beautiful boybaby.
As he grew, Johnny smiled, gurgled and
laughed often. He brought much happiness to the Karlberg home. As time passed,
Johnny learned walk, talk, and before long grew into boyhood. As he grew, the
qualities which babyhood and boyhood hinted at became realities. Johnny
exploded into a handsome, gregarious popular young man.
John, as he was then called, became a
leader in all he undertook. His friends looked up to and respected him. They
followed his example and whatever John tried or did, they had to try or do.
As for being popular with the women,
the years hadn’t changed that fact or any other than to improve upon and mature
it. Now, instead of being soft and cuddly, he was big and strong. He wasn’t
tiny and cute any longer, but handsome and virile. Only his eyes had not
changed. They were still brown flecked with gold and while they still laughed
and flirted, they had learned to promise, caress, love and conquer. Why, just
one certain look with the left eyebrow raised just so and the women fell into
his arms. With these positive qualities, John soon became an adept and
proficient lover, as you can well understand.
So, now on this 18th day of
June 1965, exactly 23 years since that weary traveler Mr. Stork stopped to rest,
we find that his lost possession has grown into a fine specimen of a man. True,
he has his faults—thinks he is a mechanic for instance—but so does every man
and they are easily overlooked if one loves enough. Besides what he lacks in
some ways he more than makes up for in other ways.
John has become through time considerate, gentle, understanding, kind, loveable, fun, sweet, silly, crazy, responsible, faithful, trustworthy, good; and at times, impossible, slightly unbelievable, disgusting, terrible, ornery, horrible—in summation just a little bit of everything which makes him interesting, slightly fascinating and so much fun to be with.
Perhaps you wonder how I know so much.
The answer is very simple if you read between the lines. I am the girl who is
wildly, passionately, hopelessly in love with him.
So, today on his 23rd
birthday, while she doesn’t know or can foresee what the future years may bring
him, she sincerely and lovingly wishes and prays that each coming year may
bring him endless love, happiness and contentment.
She hopes that he will have a mate who
will love him as a man, husband, lover, sweetheart, father, child, boy and
baby; and as the one and only man for her until the days they were meant to
share have past.
She also hopes that he may experience
the wonder of loving a woman as woman, wife, mistress, mother, sweetheart,
child, girl, baby and as the only woman for him until the time they were meant
to share has past. She hopes he will be able to share his hopes and dreams with
this woman as never before without the fear of being laughed at or having his
innermost thoughts told to the neighbors.
In other words, she hopes that John
will find the perfect mate so that no matter what problems arise or how much
time may pass, they will always be able to solve their problems and share a
tiny bit of heaven here on earth by merely thinking of, talking of, or being
with each other.
For John, this girl wishes and prays
that the blessings that God bestows upon him and those he loves may be
plentiful, that his life may be rich and rewarding, that he may be happy, loved
and content for all time.
In addition, she gives him her heart
and her love.
Happy
Birthday Darling, Paula
There
you have it, written 55 years ago some time this week. There are many things I
would change and correct now with regard to wording and punctuation, but I didn’t
have the education I later gained. In reading this, I do think that all I
wished for John did come to fruition. Maybe not so much in the very last
difficult years, but for the majority of them, I think my wishes and prayers
for John were fulfilled.