Just so the sun don’t hurt you when you cry
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”
—————-
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. 
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”.
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?
“Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron man lives again!”
—————–
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”
Popularity: 69% [?]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZACH!!!
maggie, dammits last blog post..September 11th
12 Sep 2008 at 10:27 am
Happy birthday, sweet boy!
Nicholes last blog post..Exercising in the living room
12 Sep 2008 at 11:08 am
Happy Birthday, Z!!
Jessica Ks last blog post..Yesterday
12 Sep 2008 at 11:29 am
Happy birthday Z. Congrats parents on getting him to 1 year with nothing more than a few scuffs and scrapes. Bebe Isabella saw the pictures and started clapping, it was pretty funny. Did you do cake?
Chriss last blog post..Where Were You?
12 Sep 2008 at 12:33 pm
Holy mother of Christ the redeemer! You’ve made it! Happy birthday, Zach. And cool pictures.
Now get some teeth!
People in the Suns last blog post..Just Another 9/11 Post
12 Sep 2008 at 1:00 pm
Maggie, Nichole, Jess - thanks!
Chris - she clapped because she recognizes her future husband. I’m not sure if I’ve told Dr. O’C that I already married Zach off or not. Cake tomorrow at the party.
PIS - don’t get his Mum started on the teeth thing. I’m pretty sure she sees it as some kind of personal failure.
12 Sep 2008 at 1:35 pm
“I remember the seemingly endless labor, probably worse for your Mum.”
What a sensitive guy!
headbang8s last blog post..Photo Friday: Relationship
12 Sep 2008 at 3:42 pm
with the teeth things, he’s doing fine wait til he starts teething then you’ll wish he never did… and he will be able to bite, hard. So I may have sent a very crap present…. sorry! Happy bday Z you won’t remember this birthday and don’t even know what a year is since it’s your WHOLE LIFE but well done for surviving despite the lacksidaisical parenting of your father. ONLY joking! well done a free man and Mrs a free man for bringing up a beautiful baby!
SSGs last blog post..Palin, no, not Michael
12 Sep 2008 at 7:06 pm
Happy birthday Zach!!!!!!!!
Clizia’s 4th birthday is in 2.5 weeks, and oh how it just flies by. So enjoy everything (but you know that already)!
12 Sep 2008 at 7:14 pm
Nice work going on here. Quite a handsome one you have there in the wee one.
Punk Rock Dads last blog post..Ms. Betty…..Where Are You When I Need You?
12 Sep 2008 at 10:43 pm
Babies are great - but I also loved your Absalom post.
Last but not least:GO OBAMA AND BIDEN!!!
12 Sep 2008 at 11:07 pm
Happy birthday, Z! Nothing says happy birthday to a one-year-old like Black Sabbath.
courtneys last blog post..I’d Like To Buy The World A Non-Carcinogenic, Responsibly Packaged, Healthier Alternative To Coke
12 Sep 2008 at 11:34 pm
Happy birthday, Z!!! What a great tribute.
13 Sep 2008 at 3:00 am
Hugs and kisses from the NATUI clan! Glad to see everyone made it to one year no worse for the wear! Enjoy the party, and for godssake let the kid have a bite of his own birthday cake.
Not Afraid To Use Its last blog post..Zero to Sixty
13 Sep 2008 at 6:32 am
Happy Birthday Z!
13 Sep 2008 at 12:35 pm
Happy Birthday to you… and many mooooooooore!
(Don’t the years go by in a flash?)
Trishs last blog post..My neighbour told me this joke:
13 Sep 2008 at 7:31 pm
Waiting for the photos!! Happy Brithday Z even though you cry every time you look at me because of the wretched bursting balloon incident. Curses. I shall have to up my bribery strategy.
arizaphales last blog post..The B Word
14 Sep 2008 at 10:12 pm
Aw…Happy birthday little fella.
LOVE Whiskeytown.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Satan and the snowman
15 Sep 2008 at 6:28 am
Oh my I am late, but tell Z Happy Birthday for me! I hope your celebration was wonderful and that Z gets to see Steve Spurrier cry again!
15 Sep 2008 at 10:16 am
Happy Birthday Z! Sorry I am a day late and several dollars short, but I hope your day was fun and wonderful. Loved the month by month photos…ADORABLE! Thanks for sharing.
Toastys last blog post..New Rules
15 Sep 2008 at 1:15 pm
Happy 1st birthday to your little guy!
noble savages last blog post..Full moon
17 Sep 2008 at 12:42 am