Last night I penned a little orienteering song inspired by the lyrics to Yazoo's Tuesday from their Upstairs at Eric's album...

Snorkel at fourty hearing the gun 
picked up his map started to run 
looking for someone looking to follow 
pick one and run along along
pick one and run along

It was his birthday Wednesday morning 
Realization gradually dawning 
a man in a SLOC suit whispered `You're returning' 
pack up and drive away away
pack up and drive away

Snorkel at fourty, he was Vader's
chained like a dog he had to sell
bandaids and pins all for a dollar 
pack up the trailer and drive away
pack up and drive away

Three thousand miles to the next A-meet
stopping at D-Q's, McDonald's, and Wendy's
no more shattered ankles were coming 
pack up and walk away away
pack up and walk away

As for his stomache it wasn't empty 
munching cookies and eating ice cream
around the fight using excuses running slower he was losing 
dream was stirring only dozing 
eyelids awaken to the daydream 
just an illusion broken sunshine 
Snorkel at fourty there's still hope
He can heed our helpful voice

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), December 06, 2000

Answers

Not only is today Dan's birthday, a lot of things have happened on December 6.

In 1790, Congress moved from New York to Philadelphia. In 1884, Army engineers completed construction of the Washington Monument. In 1923, a presidential address was broadcast on radio for the first time as President Coolidge spoke to a joint session of Congress. In 1947, Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by President Truman. In 1957, America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit blew up on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla. In 1957, AFL-CIO members voted to expel the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (The Teamsters were readmitted in 1987.) In 1969, a concert by The Rolling Stones at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, Calif., was marred by the deaths of four people, including one who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel. In 1973, House minority leader Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), December 06, 2000.

WELCOME TO THE FORTY CLUB, dan!!! You youngsters on the relay team, remember that half of us are now 40+ and don't forget to show your respect.

Happy Birthday. Don't eat too much cake. I hear next year's relay will be super fast and you'll need to be in the best shape of your life to finish in the top third of the field.

(actually, I know nothing about Relay '01.)

-- peggy (Pdickison@aol.com), December 06, 2000.