17 June
2011
Written by Brian Martin
When I celebrated my 50th birthday, I put on a big party. I flew my Dad out from England for the event. I had just retired at 49 years-old.
We all wore black-tie and I hired some of my favorite musicians.
The chef, I was to discover, had been a boy-seaman when I was a cadet in the navy, and while in those days we were not supposed to mix with the crew, he and I would meet up on shore as we both loved jazz. Meeting up with him was a great birthday present in itself.
Several of my show-business mates organized, unbeknown to me, a ‘roast’, where they shared and, of course, exaggerated our experiences and stories over the years. One famous male broadcaster dressed up as a Japanese geisha known as ‘Madam Sushi Bar’ and talked about how she employed me as a doorman at the ‘Plenty Nooki Geisha House’ on Tokyo’s Ginza, and how all the hostesses loved me.
My first wife, who I retained a wonderful friendship with, and my current Japanese wife were both professional singers and recording artists. Billed as the ‘Martin Sisters’, they serenaded my 80 guests and I to the song ‘Sisters’ and ‘Hello Brian’. It was one of the highlights of my birthday to feel the love of these two very beautiful women.
When I was given an opportunity to respond, I think that the truthful remarks I made were that all the people in the room, had in some way, given me a gift of themselves which was part of me. Their contribution to my life was my real wealth.
My wonderful secretary for seven years in Japan, sent me a birthday card, with a message which I read out to my friends, it said
‘Count your life by smiles, not tears
And with joy on every birthday,
Count your age by friends not years.’
(That makes me very old!)