I had an interesting surprise when I logged on to Google this morning: the Google Doodle wished me a happy birthday.
Who knew?
Apparently, Google cleverly substitutes a custom birthday edition of its popular “Google Doodle” on a user’s birthday if that user happens to be logged on to Google.
The Google Doodle is the artwork that takes the familiar Google logo and transforms its shape and colors to pay tribute to people or events that are important to history or pop culture.
I logged on this morning thinking that if there were a Google Doodle at all today, it might have something to do with Frankenstein. That’s what happens when you share a birthday with the late Boris Karloff. Karloff was an actor known for his roles in horror films and particularly as the original Frankenstein. He later narrated the Dr. Seuss classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and voiced the part of the Grinch as well.
Karloff was born on November 23rd, 1887. I am happy to report that he and I share only the same birth date, not the same birth year. Oddly enough, Karloff died in February of the year I was born.
I have an aunt who is particularly fascinated by numerical coincidences like that. I mention that for her benefit; now if I could only get her to touch a computer and one day meander her way to this blog.
But I digress.
When I reached Google’s homepage, I saw was the name “Google” spelled out in the form of various birthday cakes:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Pattboy92/google-doodle_zpsf74ee8fb.jpg
I hovered over it to see whose birthday it was celebrating and was surprised when the alternate text programmed into the Google Doodle popped up: “Happy Birthday, Patrick!”
Wow. I was flabbergasted that Google would do a Google Doodle for me. After a moment or two of being flabbergasted, however, common sense did kick in: I’m the only one seeing it. Despite pounding away at this blog for almost a full decade now, I am not yet a household name.
Somehow, in the grand scheme of things, I don’t have a problem with that at all.
In any case, thanks for the nice surprise, Google. In this day and age, I suppose that’s as close as we can get to the internet equivalent of “service with a smile.” 
I also enjoy the birthday greetings…It’s so lovely. It certainly gives us a smile…
So you were born on November 23rd too? Happy belated. Found it a little annoying though that I had to log out to play that Doctor Who doodle everyone was raving about.
gingerconsult patricksplace I did. Yesterday…and it was irritating because I had to log out to play Doctor Who.