The Day a Gay was Born

On the fourteenth day of August in 1281 C.E., Mongol forces attempting to conquer Japan were devastated and nearly destroyed when a "Divine Wind" causes a typhoon, killing nearly 100,000 people.

On the same date in 1784, Russia begins to settle the remote land of Alaska, and in 1935, the United States Congress passes the Social Security Act (our grandchildren will not know what "social security" is).

On August 14, 1945, Japan announced to its citizens that they had surrendered to the Allied Powers; on that very same day, the famous comedian Steve Martin was born in the Texas town of Waco.

And 145 miles from Waco in Huntsville, Texas -- where General Sam Houston lived out his final years -- on Thursday, August 14, 197X, a young lad was born to a British lady, and a decendant of Russian immigrants.

Twenty-eight years later, this young lad called Jake would meet another young lad called Jao (a.k.a. Smith) and they would become best friends. Smith bonded with Jake by sleeping on his sofa, using his computer, and eating from his refrigerator. Smith bonded with him so much that Jake could not keep him away -- sometimes Smith would show up at Jake's door out of nowhere, just for the hell of it! Even though today they only see each other on average about two to three times a year, they have remained close, in touch, and off the wall!

Today is August 14, 2006 and my best friend Jake's birthday. I want to wish him the best birthday a gay British/Russian Texan can get!

Happy Birthday Jake!!