statistically, in today’s world, 
 each of us shares the same birthday with about
 20 million other people
  
 that’s a lot of birthday candles
  
 imagine that everyone in your city 
 has the same birthday as you
 imagine that 20 million birthday buddies 
 are celebrating simultaneously
  
 imagine that you and the 20 million inhabitants of Mexico City are
 partying and shouting
  
 “felice cumpleanos!”
  
 or you and your 20 million birthday buddies in New Delhi are
 greeting each other with

 मुबारक
  
 wow! 20 million people having one huge  party
 Every person you meet singing out
  
 “happy birthday!”
  
 and you joyfully respond
  
 “happy birthday!”
  
 this thought made me so warm and fuzzy I decided to try it in my own town
 not a megalopolis by any measure but the best I can do for now
  
 walking down Main Street, I greeted each passerby with an exultant
  
 “happy birthday!”
  
 Sadly, the odd responses did not live up to my hopes
  
 which is why I’m back to a party for one
  
 I wonder what my 20 million other birthday buddies are doing
  
  
 tio stib
  
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