Cheesecake Factory did a nice jobI would like to thank the over 250 people that wished me a happy birthday this September 13th. I was honored and humbled by this outpouring of love.
Emails, personal greetings, texts, calls, facebook postings: short of a carrier pidgeon or a Morse-Code wiregram, I received well wishes from nearly every conceivable manner of communication.
I'll be honest, I was dreading the birthday. Dreading 37. Just dreading. To help chip away at this negativity, Mom pointed out: "Thomas, one day, quicker than you'd think, you'll be 62 wishing you were 37. Don't waste it."
Stacy didn't give up on getting together with me. I resisted and resisted and resisted. I wanted to go home and brood. Stupid. (She's responsible for the cake in the picture. White-Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake!!)
Pick up a copyOne of my friends pointed out: "Tom, you focus so much on things you hate." He was referring to the book I wrote. [click the book to learn more -- FREE SHIPPING for the rest of September]
I want you all to know I've started a book of things I love and that fill me with awe!
I want to thank everyone who made my 37th birthday so special. Harry Potter Uno, greeting cards that play 'Rock Around the Clock', keychains, elephant magnets, cupcakes, cookies, Plush Puff grourmet marshmallows, cash, gift cards, hugs, handshakes, "Age is only a number," "You still look good, Tom," greetings from: old girlfriends, fellow ex-Boy Scouts, former co-workers, present co-workers, comics, students, teachers, cousins, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, "signifcant others", immediate family, four other people who share September 13th, this quote: "'Sept 13' - the 'Day of Passionate Care' Intense, Devoted, Persevering. Mel Torme, Roald Dahl, Tom Antonellis. (from the 'Secret Language of Birthdays' book)", fellow actors, fellow voice-over artists, people whom I go back as far as kindergarten, former classmates at Lilja Elementary School, Wilson Middle School, Natick High School and Syracuse University, folks from my Arthur Murray extended family, this wish: "Happy Tom Antonellis Day! - Established in 1974, a day of stupid jokes, list comedy, McDonald's food, and the prioritization of family and good friends", white chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake (I know I already mentioned it -- I needed to say it again!!), the Red Sox won -- what more could you ask for?
Thank you, thank you, thank you all.
- September 13, 2011