Happy Birthday, Baby Z! No, Boy Z.

Happy Birthday, my pea. My chicken. My monkey.

Happy Birthday, Z-Man. My Super Z.

Happy Birthday, Zachary P. Quack.

It’s been a year, a year beyond my wildest dreams. I remember clearly, and hope I always do, the days leading up to your arrival in the world. I remember the seemingly endless labor, probably worse for your Mum. I remember running out of energy entirely and sleeping on a bed made of various delivery implements on the floor of the delivery room. I remember the absolute powerlessness that I felt when things started to go a bit pear shaped at the end. Most of all I remember the feeling, one that I am entirely incapable of describing in words, when I first saw the top of your head. When I broke down in tears while saying, “It’s a boy, it’s a boy.” When I first held you in my arms. When I picked you up and everything changed, as a better writer than me has said.

I remember the song that was playing when you were born. It was Whiskeytown’s cover of Gram Parsons “A Song For You”. It wouldn’t have been my choice, but as I held you for the first time – too delicately, too nervously – it made perfect sense and it’s burned into my soul now as a song for you.

“Oh my land is like a wild goose
Wanders all around everywhere
Trembles and it shakes till every tree is loose
It rolls the meadows and it rolls the nails
So take me down to your dance floor
And I wont mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door
And tomorrow we will still be there…”

MP3: Whiskeytown – “A Song For You”

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A Free Man, Dr. O’C and A Free Boy are celebrating today. Unfortunately two of us are celebrating at work and the third at kid jail, but we’ll get there. Since it seems that most of you aren’t going to be able to make it to the party tomorrow, Boy Z and I decided to give you a little bit of a gift – some of out favorite tunes of late.

MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – “See You On The Moon”

This is one of our favorite sing-a-long tracks by a wonderful lo-fi folk outfit. I interviewed Tony Dekker, the brains behind Great Lake Swimmers, a little while ago and his record Oniagra is one of my favorites from 2007. Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara

MP3: Kimya Dawson & Antsy Pants – “Tree Hugger”

I’ve been singing this one to Baby Z for weeks. Made famous by “Juno”, but Kimya Dawson is just fantastic. Check out her record “Remember That I Love You”. Kimya Dawson - Remember That I Love You

MP3: Black Sabbath – “Iron Man”

Finally, my post yesterday caused a bit of a ruckus and some strong feelings. But it’s important to remember that whether liberal or conservative, religious or athiest, most of us have the same ultimate goal – a good life for ourselves and our family. We all want to raise our children in the best way can. And I’m sure that we all start off the day by listening to a little Black Sabbath with our kids. Right? Black Sabbath - Lords of Dogtown

“Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron man lives again!”

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One last thing. Baby Z – Boy Z – told me that all he wants for his birthday is to get to see Steve Spurrier cry again. His beloved Georgia Bulldogs are headed over to Columbia, SC to play the Layin’ Hens of the University of South Carolina. Now, the Old Ball Coach laid one on us in Athens last year, but that was before Z’s time. I’ve regaled the boy with cautionary tales about Spurrier’s evilness, particularly when he was at the University of Florida. Z recognizes just how crucial it is that we smack Spurrier and his Chickens around on Saturday.

Georgia visits South Carolina on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. Eastern (5:00 a.m. Sunday in Adelaide) kick. No internet video that I’m aware of  so we’ll be listening.

In the interest of equal time for nourishing mothers, Missouri has another easy one as they host the Nevada Wolfpack on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern (2:00 a.m. Sunday in Adelaide).

Hurray, hurrah! Mizzou! Mizzou!

Sic ‘em Dawgs!

Most importantly, Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.

MP3: Oxford Collapse – “The Birthday Wars”

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