Happy Birthday To Me and My Friends

This past week I’ve been celebrating my birthday. And, yes, I do mean for the week (or most thereof) since this is one of those special big 0 birthdays which family and friends want to rub my face in...or perhaps they just want to show their love.  Let’s go with the latter.

On my actual birth date, via that vital part of every day known as Facebook, I learned that I share my birthday with Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. I don’t know why I wasn’t aware of this before. Ever since he shed real tears of real emotion watching his bride walk down the aisle, he’s been my favourite royal. Perhaps even before that. I mean, he – the fastlane-living, athletic, playboy prince – picked up “our Mary” in a bar. And since that epic wedding (he in full romance-cover-worthy uniform), Fred and Mary have produced four beautiful babies including twins. He is manna from category romance heaven. How could we not adore him? 

So, yes, I am quite chuffed to learn that I share a birthday with Prince Fred and it got me wondering whom else I may share my cake day with...I mean I knew about John Wayne because, well, John Wayne. Icon. Possible my husband’s favourite actor (or at least second favourite behind Clint Eastwood.) I also knew that Isadora Duncan, famous for interpretative dance and treacherous floaty scarves, was born on the same day (many, many years earlier – I am not THAT old!) but a google search revealed I shared the candle-blowing, cake-eating celebration with jazz legends Miles Davis and Al Jolson, that controversial bare-footed runner Zola Budd, lovely lovely Lenny Kravitz, the queen of quirk Helena Bonham Carter plus Matt Stone, one half of the creative genius behind South Park and The Book of Mormon. 

Then there’s Stevie Nicks, which also warms my heart, since Fleetwood Mac was my first big concert experience way back in my youth and I still rate Rumours high on my Best Albums Ever list.  According to her Wikipedia entry, Stevie “spent her adolescence playing records constantly and existing in her own little musical world.” Substitute books and I feel a true affinity with that girl!

I also shared my day-of-birth with Sally Ride, the first US female astronaut and the youngest astronaut to travel to space. She flew twice in the Challenger and after leaving NASA worked in areas of physics that are so far above my head they are well into space.  Which also describes her PhD thesis topic.  This is one super intelligent, strong, courageous woman and reading that she and her long-time partner wrote six acclaimed children’s science books together only adds to my admiration.

So, let's share… Is there someone you admire, adore or abhor who shares your birth date? Or perhaps someone you believe should be your birthday twin (because you share the same bodacious talent.)