

On my last birthday I woke up a little bummed about getting older. I was hoping my wife would make a big deal over it at breakfast to cheer me up, but I got nothing.
Just a quick “Morning, honey. The oatmeal’s on the stove.”
I knew she had a busy day at work ahead and was distracted, so I shrugged it off. But I thought for sure the kids would come through.
But all they did was fight over the cereal and make a mess. So I took off for the office feeling worse than when I woke up.
Then when I got to work my assistant Julie gave me a big smile and a huge “Happy Birthday!” It really made me feel better that at least one person remembered.
About lunchtime Julie stuck her head in my office and asked if she could take me out for a birthday lunch. That sounded great to me so off we went.
Even better, she chose a quiet, out of the way place I’d never been to before. She insisted we have a couple of martinis, and I was all for it, feeling better about my birthday by the minute. Julie’s always had a good sense of humor and we laughed a lot.
As we started walking back to work, Julie suggested we detour a couple of blocks to her new apartment so she could show me her great view.
When we got there, we took in the view which was indeed terrific, and then Julie, who had never come on to me before, gave me a quick hug and said she was going to slip into the bedroom for a minute.
I was thinking it’s amazing what a few birthday martinis will do.
I was a little nervous, but I said okay.
She disappeared into the bedroom, and after a few minutes came back out with a big, beautiful birthday cake.
Right behind her were my wife, my kids, and a whole bunch of folks from the office, all singing Happy Birthday.
And I just sat there open-mouthed on the sofa.
Naked.