I ask everyone reading the blog today to join me in celebrating Mark’s Birthday by sending and electronic comment. Just click on the link below labeled comment and send him a message, somethin’ anythin’. Then I will send them all to him. He will be very touched when he calls me on the morning of his birthday.
He has 31 days left! Yipee! Let the countdown begin!
Happy Birthday brobro! I love you.
To my one and only and very special Markie - Happy Birthday Darling - and many happy returns of the day and all that. Been riveted by the bits of your blog that I've read. Will have to make time for more of that.
Brings back the days of h.s. when reading your notes was so much more entertaining and instructional than whatever the likes of Mrs. Marks and Mrs Olmsted were trying to distract me with.
I think you can get a screen play, AND many New Yorker essays out of this experience.
As always, your take on humanity impresses me to no end. You are a true writer.
My life is endlessly busy attending to work and tutoring and my children and social life, such as it is, and recreational obsessions, and all the horrid suburban homeowner chores I'm saddled with until death do me part.
Lots of good, some bad and sad, much mundane. It's all goin' fade away anyway, right?
Loving and encouraging thoughts coming your way from your old friend on your birthday. You must let me know when you're sprung, where you're at and how I can reach you. If you with Sandra for a bit would certainly try to come and see you - time and $$$ willing.
I wish you the brightest possible future - you surely deserve the best after this ordeal! And you can be sure that you hve a pemanent invitation to visit here on the East Coast at any time. We'll be sure to meet at Kier's graduation, in any case.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!! i think about you everyday, and i can't wait to see you. i love you. -daniella
Dear Mark,
Happy happy birthday & "many happy returns of the day, I'm sure" (Mary Poppins).
You have great spirit and incandescent gifts...
Love, Claudia
Happy Birthday, my dear old friend! Although the past few years have seen a distance grow between us, I am so happy to be back in contact with you. You are the man who always made me laugh, and who always made me think. I hope we never lose touch again because you really mean a lot to me. You are a fine man, Mark. Stay true to yourself.
Hi Brother Mark, Happy Birthday dear one. May you enjoy your cup a soup with your bunkie, stay safe, have an unexpected treat, laugh and be happy today. I just spoke to Daniella's answering machine and to keir himself.....now natalie is here showing me a book she made....ok then Love ya,
Erica
llove
you
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it is me again....
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK...WE BOTH GET A LITTLE OLDER THIS MONTH.
HANG IN THERE THESE LAST FEW WEEKS..AND GOOD LUCK IN NEW MEXICO!
HUGS AND KISSES...NICK
oh, markie
it's ridiculously long...and before i take up too much space making excuses, let me say happy birthday!! i love and miss you and think of you every day. i will write you a more personal letter soon but i wanted to make sure you got this today. you are one of the darlings of the universe...xxx
moll
Maman t'aime t'embrasse. Et t'envoie ses voeux les plus tendres.
Fay ce joint a moi.
Happy birthday!!! Emoticons galore, communicating through electrons.
Been reading your blog as time allows (mostly not) and meaning to say hi. Thinking very good thoughts for you. Bon metanoia, hoping that's appropriate :)
Mark, I've been trying to send you books thru Amazon but when I track the package it says it was refused??? Now I wish I had sent you a card... Gaza sends you a telepathic canine thought... Happy woof woof Birthday! Only one month to go!... Love, bro
In honor of your birthday I am thinking of composing a twelve-tone madrigal in dissonant counterpoint for coloratura countertenor, electric bassoon, steel drums, and a mixed choir of twelve voices, each singing in a different dialect of various dead languages, with melodies drawn from cuneiform musical notation that has never been successfully deciphered with scholarly rigor. Under all of this will be a drone produced by a 46-year-old Electrolux, which symbolizes the fact that, even when things suck you still have next year to look forward to.
XXOO
happy birthday, dear cuz! i'll be seeing you tomorrow. hope i'll get in sooner this time. we'll celebrate over cheesecake and imagine the wildean party hats. lotsa love...your cuz
hey marc, just wanted to say happy birthday and that i've been keeping up with the blog, it really is amazing reading.
beau.
Hi Mark,
I won't say "Have a great day!" I'm sure the real great day is coming up in about a month. Being reminded of your birthday reminds me that [Big] Brian's birthday is coming up too. There's something I can update you on, Brian showed up at my regular Saturday morning meeting after I returned back from LA for work in March, so he's back in my life again. [See, even on your birthday, it's not all about you!]
Well, you know how I can be about birthdays, so I'll put Brian aside now and let it be all about you again. I'm sure November will feel more like your birthday than October this year. I'm sure you can come up with some clever analogy comparing the prison gates to the birth canal. Be sure to cut the cord!
Love,
Billy
Happy, Happy--This is one hellava surprise BD party! And no room big enough to contain it either.
Today, all day, my thoughts, love, and prayers for you,
Anne
Hi Mark
one more month to go and
you will reclaim your life.
Wishing you for next year
health of course and many
productive endeavors to
fullfil yourself. A big hug
Fay
Started reading the blog the other day. sounds like you will have a lifetime of stories out of this. Happy Birthday. much love.
-K
Hi Mark,
Well, someone needs to make a joke about a birthday cake with a file in it for heaven's sake. There, that's done.
Happy, happy birthday. May next year be in a better place (Jerusalem?), both geographically and psychologically.
I had gotten behind on the blog since we last wrote, so I printed the entire thing out and took it with me when I went away last week. Now my shoulder is dislocated from carrying it, but it was worth it. The writing is amazing, of course.
Sorry about that pencil thing. Guess I misunderstood the rules. I kept wondering what level of harm a pen could do instead...
Love, Ellen
Happy Birthday Marc. I am looking forward to talking with you! You are in my prayers and hope the time goes fast for you.
Cousin Sue
Thank-you everyone for the best electronic birthday party ever. I am Tickled Pink. Sandra has read me your conversations and is sending me the paper version pronto. I feel very much a part of everyone's lives. You are all the best!