Happy birthday to…me.  73 times around the sun for the old guy here.  Been a fun ride for the most part, and a productive one.  I hope to stay on this merry-go-round for the foreseeable future.

There are days when I feel every one of those years: arthritis, sciatica, and the assorted vicissitudes of olditude.  Yet there are days when I feel 37.  Not sure whether those are dyslexic days or self-deluding ones, but I enjoy them when they come along.

Thanks to all of you who participate here. You’re part of the momentum that keeps this old fart going.

98 COMMENTS

  5. Happy birthday & many more, Mas! Your writing on guns & self defense has been a huge influence on me.

  6. Happy birthday to one more guy who figured out a way to leave the world a better place than he found it.

    Here’s hoping for 73 more years of good health, happiness, and burning gunpowder.

  7. Congratulations youngster (got you by one year), and a hope of many healthy, busy and alert repeats. One of my personal mottos is that I should have occasionally made some more moderate decisions in my younger days. Be careful on those days you feel 37, you may rue your choices in the next couple of days.

    A hearty thank you for the wit and wisdom you’ve dispensed over the decades.

  8. I have 3 different ages…Physical, Mental & Chronological…2 of them subject to change at a moments notice! Happy Birthday!

  12. Happy Birthday Darlin,
    Here’s to many, many more years for you and many more musings.

    Have a wonderful day !!!

  15. Happy Birthday, Mas – I have you beat by about 6 months. Linda, I like your age descriptions. They certainly do apply to me and most of the people I know.

  16. Happy Birthday! I hope you will do something special for yourself. 73 candles is a bit much though. Thank you for all of your work on behalf of gun safety and gun ownership and 2A rights.

  17. Good tidings to you, Mas! Aways enjoy both your serious and light-hearted sides.

    MAG40 was life-changing for me, I will aways hear your deep authoritative voice reassuring me when I do it right, and critiquing me when otherwise.

  18. Have a wonderful birthday! I hope you have many more years filled with happiness, great conversations, and gun powder!

  20. Glad to have crossed paths with you during our time here on this earth. Look forward to seeing you again. As you say “It’s better to be seen than viewed.” Cheers brother. ?

  23. A Very Happy Birthday to you Mas, I will be turning 80 the 28th of September so I understand aches and pains. Enjoy each and every one of your articles about guns and training. I look forward to many more. Best to you and the princess. Jon, Retired LEO

  26. Revel in joyous merrymaking on this commemoration of the passage of another twelve periods between successive new moons since your parturition. Enjoy setting a sugary pastry on fire while being serenaded with the species growth incantation. I am hopeful that you receive many sacrifices wrapped in shiny paper.

  27. A joyous and safe day, my friend, enjoy Three Kings and a nap I treasure the few days spent in Colorado under your tutoring of things gunish and lawness, eh, the Left invents words

  30. Happy Birthday from friend of Bob Schwartz. I met you back in the late 80’s when I took LFI1, Bob was helping out somewhat with the class.

  33. happy birthday rabbi!
    and remember what george burns said on his 100th when asked if he could have anything what it would be. he took a puff on the stogie, thought a moment, and said ‘ah, to be 90 again’.

  34. Happy B Day Mas! We look forward to tons more years of your stories, articles, wisdom and advice. Happiness, health and prosperity to you and yours.

  36. As a former student, full of appreciation for these great service your life is, thanks and, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ???

  37. arthritis, sciatica, and the assorted vicissitudes of olditude

    Yeah, but keeping active helps. Of course you also have to learn to trust medical professionals who aren’t old enough to be your children.

    Happy Birthday!

    • Larry, you know you’re a grownup when the cops are younger than you, and you know you’re old when the DOCTORS are younger than you.

      • Not only are the doctors younger than you, they all look like they just graduated from high school (only a few years behind you…)

        Well Mas, that makes TWO significant events in history on July 20 – you entered the world, and two youngsters named Armstrong and Aldrin made a stop out of this world. But you were first. Today I fly the flag for both. Happy birthday to a great American.

  43. Happy Birthday, Mas!

    An anecdote from Douglas MacArthur on getting old: In WWI, he was one of the youngest generals in the Army and appeared visibly younger than his actual age, leading the men under him to nickname him “their Hell-for-breakfast baby.” When one of his old enlisteds showed up at his 80th birthday party in 1960 and asked “how it felt to finally be old,” Mac’s response was “When you consider where the rest of Class of 1903 is today, pretty good actually!”

    Heck, there are times when I start to consider whining about the “sampler plate” of aches and pains of 40, and then I see you still plugging away between class and match work at almost twice my age and think “what do *I* have to complain about?”

  44. Happy birthday Mas, I’ll take all the aches, pain and bs daily life throws at us over a dirt nap any day. I will admit some days a dirt nap seems very appealing, but then I come to my senses.
    Hoping you have many many more years around the Sun and looking forward to seeing you again.

  45. Happy birthday Mas. We ALMOST match birthdays. I hit 71 tomorrow and while my mind tells me I’m stiil a youngster, the body says “no you ain’t!”

  47. Best wishes to you Mr. Ayoob. You’ve been a source of inspiration and vast fount of knowledge, I am eternally grateful. Many, many happy returns, good health and happiness to you.

  50. Happy Birthday, Mas!
    Here’s wishing you many more–both for your own sake and for all who benefit from your writing and teaching.
    Warm Regards,
    Jeff

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