57

​I knew I wanted to write a little blog on my birthday this year. First, I’m not a big birthday person for myself because I never like to be the center of attention which your birthday kind of does. 

I have been in a season of loss for almost 4 years now. Obviously, my wife Talia and recently my Dad, but I’ve lost so many people close to me, many I called Mom or friend. But all haven’t been from transitions to Heaven, some losses of friends have come from ideology differences, and other reasons. It’s been hard, especially my last relationship loss. 

With all of this however, God has been faithful and I have learned so much. I’m actually overwhelmed with all the lessons learned and I really need to take the time to document for myself all that has been downloaded to me. 

Despite still dealing with some of this loss, I am thankful for my birthday this year. One thing birthdays give us is a new start. I’m thankful for new starts and am trying to position myself in my old age, to really live the rest of my days on this earth close to the way God designed me to live them which is being led by Holy Spirit! Fully coming to the realization of who I am in Christ and what I have at my disposal spiritually because of Jesus’s death and resurrection and how this effects how I conduct my life and the lives of others. 

So I had a nice planned day by myself (kind of) lol and did my 7 mile hike to my prayer spot and just had time with me and God. 

Another thing birthdays do at least for me, is let me know how incredibly loved and blessed I am. I humbly and happily fielded hundreds of calls, texts, and messages! A tradition I have started, is to quick speak a blessing to God over every person that communicated with me. So it was a really good day and I am filled with hope for this next year of life and my cup is filled from all the love shown me today!
​
Most of my birthdays in my adult life, I’ve had gigs on my birthday which have been good most of the time because I’ve flown under the radar. However… lol I thought it might be fun to remember some memorable birthdays. Enjoy and thank you!

So I played a gig in 2008 at the Westside Inn with the Truth in Jazz Orchestra. There were 4 trumpet players. One of the guys in the section says, it's my birthday today, then a girl says it's my birthday today, then I said it's my birthday today. What are the chances that 3 out of the 4 trumpet players in the band shared the same birthday. 

In 2016 I played with my friends at West Ottawa and Etienne Charles (former roommate) was the guest artist: 
​

My co-worker Grimaldo shared a birthday with me at MSU

Of Course Family Celebrations. 

Now a memorable birthday was in 2019. I kind of had two birthdays. I flew to Japan with MSU. I was playing lead trumpet with the big band for that tour. We flew over the international dateline so when we landed the band sang happy birthday to me on the plane. Then when we got to the restaurant, they sang again. I have no idea how they knew it was my birthday on the plane, but then Professor Whitaker took the whole band out to eat for my birthday as seen here. So much for not liking to be the center of attention! LOL After celebrating that day, I thought I was done but then realized back home in the US it was now my birthday so all day on Facebook I was getting nice messages. 

 I've been thrown two big surprise birthday parties in my life. This is a love/hate type of thing because I don't like being the center of attention. I don't like a lot of people, I love the one on one! However, having all my loved ones from all my different families and walks of life that I travel in over my life together in one spot, I love. So I have to give a little to get the later. If asked if I ever would want a party I would always say no but I love fellowshipping with so many I love. 

My first party was for my 30th birthday. So much work went into it. I felt so bad for Deb because I was not a very happy camper that day. She said she had stuff to do in the morning (planning and getting the party set up at a nearby park) so I took the opportunity to get work done around the house. Mow the lawn, plant some flowers, etc.. she came home saw me all sweaty and dirty and was mortified. LOL She asked me to get cleaned up because she wanted to go somewhere or something, I was like seriously, and had a very bad attitude, she was insistent because obviously she had to be because a birthday party without the person who's birthday it is, tends to be a little anti-climatic. So I get cleaned up, she's driving which I always drive, and we get to the park, and there are posters on the trees as you enter with sayings about me but I still don't get it. I'm reading them out loud and I'm just like what the heck. LOL she is laughing at this point because I'm so dumb! Finally I arrive and all the people are there. I felt so terrible for her and still wish I could do that day over again but it was so nice and I remember my present that day as the complete Duke Ellington CD Set on RCA which everyone contributed to. 

Then for my 50th birthday, I thought I had escaped a party because it fell during the time I was in Japan. So my nephew's Elijahs birthday is shortly after mine. So the premise was  I was going to a party for Elijah at Northview and this was after I returned from Japan. So my birthday was a thing of the past, it happened like 2 weeks ago. So Talia somehow and I don't know how she did it to this day, got my phone and would just start sending numbers of people to Chandy and then Chandy I think did the calling to invite people to this surprise party. I have a video which doesn't accurately depict just how confused I was. I expected to see people because I knew it was "A Party For Elijah" but when they yelled surprise when I walked in with Talia, I didn't get it. As I started to look at the people that were there I was like, why would they be at Elijah's party? Then I finally realized it was for me. Sorry Lij! I asked Talia, did you know about this? LOL It was very unlike her to help with this and she was a trooper for coming as this was not her cup of tea at all. She stayed for a little bit and then went to the car to read which she was fine with but too many people for her! LOL About half way through the party, I'm talking to Greg Wells, and he says turn around, and my friend, mentor, hero, Jon Faddis showed up unannounced! He drove from Chicago where he had just had a gig. Unreal! 

I hope they won't mind me posting this one from awhile back, but the Printups will send me videos from time to time and this was one complete with inside jokes! My Jazz Family is incredible and always shows me so much love and this year was no exception. Got calls from all around the country and it means the world to me! Thank you!

Talia and I dated a very long time ago when I had moved to Phoenix for a minute. It didn't work out at first, however we remained friends, and I would always see her when I'd visit. I remember at least one birthday if not two on visits that we would go out and I remember some of the gifts she got me off my amazon list. It wasn't until the last time I visited that we decided to date and get married many years later. We married on July 1, 2017 but she didn't move to MI until Labor Day of that year. I picked her up at the airport in Detroit after working with MSU at the Jazz Festival. So I had 5 birthday's with her in MI. One was Japan/50 party, One was during Covid, a couple were just low key, and the last one unfortunately was spent in hospice. The people there were so nice and Talia's Mom was in. This was less than a month before she transitioned  to Heaven. The saddest part for me with that was she was still a little with us but slept a lot. She always tried to make my birthday special and would surprise me with gifts with extra money she saved up. At one point that day, she found out it was my birthday and I can tell she was a little sad she didn't know, but I assured her that she was still here to be with me and that's all I needed, not knowing it wouldn't be too much longer. The cupcake was from the nice lady who did all the cooking there. 

I have gone to some concerts. I saw Faddis in Chicago one year and 2023 I went to the Brass Band of Battle Creek to see Wycliffe, Herlin, and Doreen Ketchens. Crazy thing is I have a gig in October coming up with Doreen and I'm scared stiff, but I'll be ready! LOL 

Then last year I did have a gig in PY in a Paul Simon Tribute Band I'm in. I thought I'm good nobody will know. Well, one of my friends wives who I'm friends with, got on Facebook and found out. They had the whole crowd sing to me. LOL so kind! 

That gets me to this year. I had a really nice day as stated above. I'm excited to be growing especially spiritually and learning to fear less and trust more. It's a rough process and like anything, I don't think you ever arrive and am always trying to strive to get to the next level of maturity. I pray I will be a better friend and example to all that God has placed in my life in this next year. I'm thankful and grateful to God and what the next year of life holds. I'm thankful for all that showed such love to me today! Love, Blessings, and Swing! 
​MCIII