Tomorrow is the 65th anniversary of my birth!

English actor, director and producer, Sir Patrick Stewart, also has a July birthday. During Quarantine, he has been reading a Shakespearean sonnet a day aloud on Instagram. On the eve of his 80th birthday, Sir Patrick celebrated by reading Sonnet 80. On the eve of my 65th, you can celebrate by clicking here and listening to Stewart read Shakespeare’s 65th Sonnet. Thank you Sir Patrick and thank you Shakespeare! May my love shine bright…

Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea But sad mortality o’er-sways their power, How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, Whose action is no stronger than a flower? O, how shall summer’s honey breath hold out Against the wrackful siege of batt’rling days, When rocks impregnable are not so stout, Nor gates of steel so strong, but time decays? O fearful meditation! where, alack, Shall time’s best jewel from time’s chest lie hid? Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back? Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid? O, none, unless this miracle have might, That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

Sonnet 65, William Shakespeare

C’est la vie.