My Family And Friends Gave Me An Epic 40th Birthday Weekend!

"Remember George, no man is a failure who has friends," the Angel Clarence tells him.

It was a Wonderful 40th Birthday Weekend for me that I'll never forget, all thanks to my amazing family and friends. I'm truly blessed. Many of my friends love to bust on me because I "drag out and milk my birthday for a month!" When your birthday is the week of Thanksgiving, I'm sorry but it's necessary! Thanksgiving tends to be the busiest travel week all year long, meaning pretty much nobody is all around at the same exact time. When your birthday is November 25th, once every 6 years it lands exactly on Thanksgiving Day. Even before we had Facebook to remind us of each other's birthdays, even growing up friends and family knew the drill to just simply wish me a Happy Birthday at any point during Thanksgiving Week, knowing they wouldn't be too far off from it.

Then there's the cool story of how ever since I was 12, I knew my dream career. The afternoon DJ on my favorite rock station in Boston, sounded so cool and funny. He made it sound like he was hanging out backstage with my favorite band Pearl Jam every night. Once you work in radio, you quickly learn it's not really like that, even though there will be some occasional celebrity meet and greets. I also figured quickly I also wanted to be a Program Director. Throughout my Boston career I was able to work with so many fantastic mentors who are still great friends to me today. I was able to get all the way to the Assistant Program Director role in Boston.

After a few months of interviewing with iHeartRadio, my now boss Chuck offered me the job to be Program Director for WSUS + Max 106.3, and Afternoon DJ. I accepted. I casually asked him on this Wednesday in mid November "is my start date after the holidays?" He looked back and said "actually we would like you to start this Monday." Turns out, that Monday happened to be November 25th, my Birthday. My Birthday will always mark my first day here in New Jersey, as a Program Director and Afternoon DJ.

This Epic Weekend In Pictures is probably going to be much less text, but even more pictures.

We'll start with what has been my tradition the past 6 years or so. I start my annual Birthday celebration on Thanksgiving Eve, no matter how far out my Birthday may be from it. My first Thanksgiving Eve I left Jersey heading back to New England to see my family. It took me over 7 hours long instead of the 4, but worth every minute if that means I get to see my family.

The next year, we had a terrible snowstorm on Thanksgiving Eve. I called up my parents in tears saying that it was too dangerous and risky. I would have to do something so risky, travel up Thanksgiving early during the morning. I was on the road by 7am, and there by 11, 4 hours without traffic as if it was any other early weekend morning. Major success.

The next year, I decided to start throwing birthday parties for myself on Thanksgiving Eve so I can see as many of my Jersey friends as I can before going back to New England seeing my wonderful family and friends.

It has ended up becoming somewhat of an annual tradition. I reach out to as many friends as I can, but some just know every year that it's an annual tradition. Sometimes there are some years where more friends can make it, sometimes fewer friends can do it. They're always so sweet and apologetic, I always remind them "guys much love and I understand, it's Thanksgiving week that's why I do it this way!'

Wednesday night we had a wonderful time at Kite's. I was able to reserve a table, which we ended up using as a birthday gift table. That wasn't my intention! I was just trying to guarantee we had a spot, because as we know Thanksgiving Eve during normal times is arguably the busiest night in bars all year long.

I can't think of a better way to spend the last night of my 30s.

Thursday morning I was able to head up 84 to 90 to 495 to 140 to see my family. Hugging each of them was amazing. Getting to relax with them, eat food and watch football was just what the doctor ordered.

Knowing the elephant in the room tough year I've had the past few months, they immediately looked over and asked if I wanted to say grace this year. I thanked the powers that be, and then said "I am also thankful for this. I can't think of a better way to spend the first day of my 40s, than getting to be with the greatest family I guy could ever have. I hit the jackpot. Thank you."

Black Friday for us tends to be a rather mellow day. My parents host and we cook turkey (which by 'we' you know I mean Madre and Padre lol,) and my Uncle Dan does a turkey too. My Aunts and Uncles take care of several terrific sides. All I need to do is just drive up from New Jersey and enjoy.

Even if it wasn't my birthday week, Thanksgiving would still be my favorite day of the year. Getting to spend the day with my amazing family, while eating great food and relaxing watching football? It's like that song, these are a few of my favorite things.

Madre, Padre, Zannie, JDawg and I all went to Padre and Zannie's regular local brewery in Norton, Ma. Bog Iron always has so many of our regular friends there and my goodness it's like I get a homecoming welcome whenever they see me. Of course, this is due to Padre and Zannie going there every week, not the 3-5 times per year I'm able to go.

Then, my best friend Matt showed up and surprised me. We hadn't seen each other since before the pandemic. We were telling so many hilarious stories (usually about all of the silly things I have done and basic things in life i still don't know despite many trying to teach me.) If it felt like we were laughing for hours, it's because we were. They way life should be, friends busting on each other.

We have another birthday tradition that I really enjoy every year. Typically a day or two after Thanksgiving, my family goes out for Longhorn Steakhouse in Mansfield for lunch to celebrate my birthday. We usually get great meals, and you know I always use their dry rub for when grilling my steaks and burgers.

My family seemed a little reluctant this year for some strange reason. Granted we were a little tired from my fun Birthday weekend, but I was definitely the driving force behind us going to Longhorn. I kept joking with them "ya know fam, a little enthusiasm here wouldn't hurt!" They kept saying "ugh, we just finished lunch at 1:30, we need to eat dinner at Fitzy's Pub in Plainville, MA at 6." I couldn't understand it. My family goes there every Saturday at 6.

We get to Fitzy's for Saturday night dinner. Their owner asked me how many and I said "I'm sorry we don't know exactly our party size, 8-10 maybe?" He laughed and said "all good, you guys can go all the way back." I joked and said "we'll go to our normal wing," because that's where we often have done birthday parties. I walk into the room, look over to the left and see a table with a random Batman gift bag, then one giant balloon with a 4, one giant balloon with a 0. SURPRISE!!!

My family threw me an amazing surprise birthday party. I saw my family again who we spent Thursday together with having a great time. I was able to see my friends Jill, John and Soup, who we just celebrated Jill and John's beautiful wedding earlier this month. I was able to see my friends CLW and Caity for our first time since the pandemic. I was able to see my neighbor friends Carol, Dan, Karen, Sam and Joseph.

My parents and sister also reached out to so many of my wonderful longtime radio friends too. They kept apologizing to me wishing for a turnout closer to 40-50 instead of 25-30, and I said "guys, remember how I saw this is Thanksgiving week?" We had a wonderful time. It was humbling. The last day of my 30s I was able to celebrate with some of my most wonderful, best friends. I was able to spend the first day of my 40s with my family. I'll take that. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Epic Weekend In Pictures, sorry I babbled for a long time about how lucky a guy I am. Time to start planning next weekend!