Birthday celebration #71 has passed and the concert that seemingly never was to be finally happened. The empty parking lot we pulled up to last year 365 days too early was muddy and packed. A heavy rain was falling and we were going to be late. Fortunately, we had VIP Parking and found a front row spot. A double rainbow filled the sky as we waited to get through the security gates. By the time we got to our seats, barely covered by the canvas roof, Earth, Wind, and Fire took the stage, an hour past the scheduled start. It was at last time to “Boogie Down.”

The night air was muggy and the rain gushed one more time. We raised an umbrella as graceless old-timers tried to dance in front of us. As usual, the seats were only as good as the people around us, but we could clearly see the distant stage if we stood. The showers lingered and our clothes were damp but the band played on – familiar tunes that sounded great despite only 3 original band members.

Before the show, we went to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, packed on a Saturday afternoon. I hoped to hit a birthday jackpot, but the only luck we had was getting a great table in the Council Oaks Steak and Seafood lounge despite my failure to make reservations. Birthday Luck, even after the poker machine losses. Plus, dinner took longer than expected, cutting my expected losses in half. A Win!

As I looked back on dinner and drank my “Liquid Death” water in the seats awaiting Santana, I savored for just a minute my life’s good fortune. Santana was, of course magical, entertaining us until just before midnight and finishing with “Smooth” as we made our way back to the car. I was anticipating at least an hour of bumper car action getting out, but 10 minutes later I was back at the Marriott Town Suites singing “it’s a hot one” in my Birthday Suit.