When Tracy and I were dating, I noticed something small in his house that made a big impression. Okay, yeah, it’s just a cardboard coaster he’d taken from a brewery and tacked to his wall, but I still have it because it says this:
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. —T.E. Lawrence
And I knew this was a dangerous man. So I married him and joined him in his dream, and that became our life.
Today I’m looking back at how we’ve celebrated each of his birthdays on the road.
2019 in the Frolic
As if we were part of a prophesy, we spent Tracy’s final sticks-and-bricks birthday out in the woods, camping in the Frolic.
It was a special weekend away from work with our new dog. Isn’t that wild?
2020 in Washburn, Wisconsin
His first birthday in the Airstream was in one of our favorite Midwest campgrounds.
Notice a theme? We like to play Firefly (the board game) on his birthday. This time with Lake Superior behind us.
2021 Western Montana
We woke up this morning worried we’d possibly get blocked in by a local in our out-of-the way boondocking spot on a river, so we packed up, hitched up, drove a mile or so, backed in, unhitched, set back up in a different out-of-the-way spot on a different river. So worth the trouble.
This pattern: Tracy likes to stand around on his birthday with a beer in one hand and Banjo’s leash in the other. A man living his plan.
2022 Manitoba, Canada
A quiet birthday up north.
Tracy grilled himself a steak and played Firefly with his wife outside. And wore the exact same clothes from 2020.
2023 Exit Glacier, Alaska
Even farther north this year, we rode our bikes from our campsite near Whittier to a walking trail that led to a glacier.
Then we rode in the other direction, along a stream packed with salmon swimming to spawn.
A damn fine birthday.
Today in Houston
Shall I sound corny and say that dreams are made from hard work?
Tracy spent this morning on the roof scraping off the adhesive on a couple of solar panels that need reapplying.
He still has the same shirt, so I gave him a new one for his birthday. We’re still playing Firefly, so I gave him a new board game, this one based on birding. He has set aside for tonight a special barrel-aged beer he’s been saving. He might stand outside tonight after we play our board game, with that beer in one hand and the dog’s leash in the other.
Here’s to another happy birthday to my dangerous man.
Post script: I did write about this quote previously, but that was before I could look back on these memories and witness these hilarious connections.
This is a lovely post.
Lovely photos.
Lovely dog.
Lovely tradition.
But most of all?
Love. Plain and simple.
Ain’t it grand?
💕
It is!! Nice response poem, too.
This is a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing the fun, the places, and the clothes. HAHA
Thanks for laughing with me!
I love this post. ❤️
Thanks!!!
Ironically, I’m planning an overnighter up north and was looking at hotel rooms in either Superior or Washburn. I went with Superior just because of its proximity to the state park I’ll be visiting, but will probably drive through Washburn/Ashland before heading home. Happy birthday to your dangerous man!
Washburn is just a small town, without so many of the tourists that Superior gets. At least that’s my expert impression from all of three weeks there. They were three great weeks!
Wait…are you yelling me Tracy is one of The Chosen, ie: a fellow Leo?Ahhhh…some new insights.
He is indeed a Leo. I don’t know what that might indicate, but there ya go.
Happy belated Birthday to Tracy from both of us! We never realized you had a Washburn connection. One of Guy’s former
coworkers used to be the mayor there. Next time you are in any bar there ask for two shots and a shorty (it’s a locals joke). Great post!
Tracy says thanks, and we’ll remember that! Now I’m curious what the joke is …