Once upon an old West morning, in the little town of Glenwood Springs, the scent of freshly baked bread and coffee wafted through the air. And it woke up one of the most famous young doctors ever.
He got up, walked to the window, opened the curtain, and sunshine flooded the room like liquid gold. And, from downstairs he heard a voice yell out..
“Good morning, birthday boy! Rise and shine. Coffee’s in the cup. Time to get up!”
So, he got dressed, splashed some water on his face, and drifted down the stairs. And as he turned the corner into the kitchen, his wife, Kate, slipped a blindfold over his eyes from behind.
Naturally, he was taken by surprise. But he played along. “What in the world?! Who is this? And what’s the big idea?” he asked.
“Young doctors need plenty of fresh air and sunshine,” was the reply.
And with that answer, he heard the screen door squeak as Kate led him out the back door. She led him slowly down the 7 steps into the back yard. They walked a few steps through the cool, soft grass. And she sat him down at their backyard picnic table.
“Ok,” he said. “So, we’re having breakfast in the back yard. Great. ‘Cause I’m hungry.”
“That IS good,” Kate answered. “You better be hungry. Because here’s a mighty big breakfast!”
And, as she said the word, breakfast, she removed the blindfold. And all around them, gathered in the big back yard, was just about the entire town of Glenwood Springs. But how they had managed to stay so quiet is anybody’s guess. Because there were kids holding balloons, adults holding coffee cups and plates and forks, and a big, waving banner that read, “Happy Birthday, Doc!”
It was almost as if removing the blindfold flipped the switch on to a big celebration. The kids started playing, the adults started eating and drinking, and the breezes snapped the banner back and forth.
Then, Mayor Silverton stepped forward and handed Doc a beautifully carved wooden box.
“This is for you, Doc. From all of us,” he said warmly.
So, Doc opened the box and found a gold pocket watch. It was artistically engraved with the words…
“To our Hero and Friend. Happy Birthday.”
Doc was overwhelmed by that outpouring of love. And, at first, he didn’t know what to say.
But he held the watch close. And thought about for a minute or so. Then he somehow managed to say, “I’ve faced many challenges in my life, but nothing has touched me as deeply as this. Thank you all.”
As the day turned to dusk and the sky turned dark blue,
Under twinkling stars, and as if right on cue,
Everyone sang out loud, “Happy, happy birthday!”
What a way to show love for their Doc Holliday.
And that’s exactly the way it was on that special birthday for one of the most famous young doctors ever. Doc Holliday, who’d be 173 today. Because he was born August 14, 1851.
(FYI: it’s not really the way it was. But it might have been if he had made some different choices.)
Anyway…
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Stay tuned…
