Bill turns 60 this year. Those of you who know Bill, would agree that there is no way he could turn 60 this year. But, it's true he does.
Although it won't be a full Birthday Party, we are going to have a little surprise celebration on Saturday February 12, 2011 at the Hilton in Dortmund (commonly known as the BILTON). Everyone who knows Bill is welcome to join. No presents please but come to join for a Hilton Burger, Bill Harris Cocktail or an Absacker!
Bill's outlook on life is summarized very nicely with "WHY NOT". When presented with almost anything, that is his response. Bill has collected this response in many languages and loves to meet people to expand the list. Here are many (but probably not all) of his Why Not's:
Pourquoi pas. French - The Original Why Not!
Warum Nicht. German - And the rest is History!
Chomu b I ni. Ukranian
Dlachego nye. Polish
Waroom niet. Dutch
Hyway otnay - Pig Latin
Porque nos - Spanish
Kyu Nahi - hindu.
Por Chomu b I nyet - Russian
Vaffe Ega - Danish
Neden olmasin - Turkish
Ang-no. - swahili
Kwanini - kenyon
Porque no. - Spanish
Waysha ma - Chinese
Ding Gai - Cantonese
Zashto neh - Croatia
Chemaa Nave - Persian
Alesh Le - Arabic
Deche Nu - Romanian
Warum Nicht. German - And the rest is History!
Chomu b I ni. Ukranian
Dlachego nye. Polish
Waroom niet. Dutch
Hyway otnay - Pig Latin
Porque nos - Spanish
Kyu Nahi - hindu.
Por Chomu b I nyet - Russian
Vaffe Ega - Danish
Neden olmasin - Turkish
Ang-no. - swahili
Kwanini - kenyon
Porque no. - Spanish
Waysha ma - Chinese
Ding Gai - Cantonese
Zashto neh - Croatia
Chemaa Nave - Persian
Alesh Le - Arabic
Deche Nu - Romanian
So we registered this domain name warum-nicht.me (Why Not Me) and started a blog site for Bill. He has talked about setting up a web site where he can detail his travels and life stories. So for his birthday, you can comment to this blog posting with a birthday wish or general comment for him. If you have any pictures, send them to me and I can add them to the slide show.
If Bill want's to take this to the next level it's up to him. After all - Why Not!!
If Bill want's to take this to the next level it's up to him. After all - Why Not!!
Regards,
Bob Andreini
Friend and co-worker
Pourquoi pas!!! It's your 60th birthday. I think this year will be a wonderful year.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, my friend.
Patrick Ortuso
Friend and colleague
Warum nicht?!
ReplyDeleteAlles gute zum sechzigsten Geburtstag!
In meiner Gegend sagt man: "So alt wird kein Schwein"...
Stefan Lange
Wishing you a year filled with warm smiles and lots of laughter ~ Happy Birthday Bill
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Happy Birthday Bill! You wise old owl :)
ReplyDeleteMike Conner
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteRumour has it you're turning 60 this year -but I said "NO, he is just 21 with 39 years experience!!"
A simple celebration, a gathering of friends; here is wishing you great happiness and joy that never ends.
Caroline Divilly
PS Cén Fáth (Irish -Why Not!!)
Wow, what a wonderful Birthday to celebrate! Hope this year brings you many wonderful surprises and memories. Make the most of it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Bill!
What a surprise? I can't believe it. But, warum nicht. Young in his heart and always a smile on his lips, this makes it possible.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday and hopefully many more years with you, guy.
Andreas
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteA big surprise! (you looks very young with a young and happy heart always)
In China, 60 is a “big” birthday, and you’ll eat “long life noodle”, (the noodle is very very very long with the hope of a very very very long and healthy life)
Chinese Confucius had a famous word for himself when he’s 60 years old, which is very popular word in China, he said “when I was sixties, I know the truth in all I‘ve heard.”, so, congratulation! You’ll begin a new life with understanding all truth of human life.
Robin Wang
Hello Bill,
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you !
60 Jahre, wer hätte das gedacht?
Have a wonderful year.
Thomas A.
Palju õnne sünnipäevaks to you Bill!
ReplyDeleteAll the good to you!
Thank you for being that person you are.
Maik S.
Hallo Bill,
ReplyDeleteich wünsche Dir viel Zeit um deine Träume zu verwirklichen und zu leben. Lass heute mal die Flaschenkorken springen und verlebe deinen Ehrentag mit uns, damit er dir immer in freudiger Erinnerung bleiben wird. Liebe Geburtstagsgrüße deine Claudi
Bill-
ReplyDeleteI hope it has been an exciting adventure over the last several years - what has it been now, 8 or 9 years traveling all over the world? I feel at least partially responsible (or should it be "to blame") for setting you off on this adventure. I sure appreciate everything you have done and I know all the people whose lives you have impacted are appreciative as well. If I walk into a Pub in some far corner of the globe and see that they have a "Bill Harris Special" on the board it won't surprise me in the least.
Erik Wikstrom
Oh, and most importantly...Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteErik
surprise, surprise...
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, i wish you all the best!
Auf ein weiteres schönes, spannendes Jahr in dem du auch weiterhin viele neue Dinge erleben sollst.
greetings from wonderful Dortmund ;-)
Henning R.
60 is the new 40 Bill, if you are anything to go by! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your help in Galway.
Hope you have a fun night, and many happy and healthy years ahead.
Siobhan B
Happy 60th Birthday Bill!
ReplyDeletePourquoi pas?
Sébastien
Unser „Sonnenschein“ wird 60 !!!!!
ReplyDelete… hip hip hurra…(60-mal)
Lieber Bill,
alles Gute und viele Liebe zu deinem 60. Geburstag. Genies die weitere 60 Jahre.
Fam. Ochsenfeld
MIO, MOX und Julia
What a surprise ! I can't believe it.
ReplyDeleteBut, why not?
Happy Birthday and i wish you all the best!
Daniel Kampmann
Und hier ein Geburtstagsgedicht - warum nicht?
ReplyDeleteDear Bill,
since we are friends I only know you as someone who loves laughing and having fun. Maybe this is your secret that keeps you young :-)
One of the greatest German comedians, Heinz Erhardt, wrote a short poem about the laughter and I think this is a nice present to make you smile.
Here we go - auf Deutsch:
Das Lachen
Kein Tier vermag sich lachend zu zeigen,
ob es nun kräht, miaut oder bellt -
das Lachen ist nur dem Menschen eigen
und deshalb nicht von dieser Welt...
As I know that your German is very good I think you do not need a translation for that.
Enjoy your birthday - I wish you all the best!!!
Sylvia
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great surprise Birthday.
Wishing you all the best for the years ahead.
Grainne B
Did I see 60 somewhere ?
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a joke...
Happy Birthday Bill and have a nice day !
Julien L.
PS : I probably won't see you again as I leave in two weeks :(
All the best for a real global player.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Bill!
Schwarz Gelbe Grüße
Ralf
Hallo Bill,
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!!
Wilkommen im Klub der 60jährigen.
Uwe
Ein Lachen im Gesicht
und im Herzen Leichtigkeit,
das wünscht Dir dies Gedicht
Frohsinn und Zufriedenheit.
Heike
As they say "age is a state of mind and if you don't mind, it doesn't matter".
ReplyDeleteNo one would ever guess!!
Happy Birthday to my newest friend!
Nancy
What! You turn 60! I believed that it was 50!!!
ReplyDeleteZergatik ez! This means 'Why not!' in Basque (one more) ;-)
Happy Birthday Bill
Jean Cassone
Why not wish an amazing person a Happy Birthday and a year filled with many blessings!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Bill!!
Michelle Andreini
Düsseldorf Germany
Nobody can explain it better than him: Why not?
ReplyDeleteAll those amazing stories: they've actually happened! Why not?
He'll always see the good side of things, Why not?
He's got the ability to steal a smile out of you every time, Why not?
His name is really world-wide-recognized! Why not?
Always ready to try new stuff... Why not?
Even when it gets though, he'll see the bright side of it (or at least he'll make a joke about it). Why not?
New culture? New Language? New places? New people? His answer most probably always be: Why not?
They MUST be mistaken! It just CAN'T be 60!!! Why not?
I truly believe he deserves (and will surely have) the most wonderful birthday celebration!! Why not?
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS BILL!!!
Hey Bill,
ReplyDeletebecoming 60,
looking like 50,
feeling like 40 ...
... ready for the next 30!
Happy Birthday!
Lars
Hallo Bill,
ReplyDeleteIch wünsche Dir ein gesundes,glückliches ud ereignisreiches neues Lebensjahr!Habe einen schönen Tag und lass Dich ordentlich feiern !
Happy birthday Corina
I hope you understand, if not lets have a "café polonais " pourquoi pas ;-)
I’m here to express my congratulations to you on your birthday. And I wish you many happy returns of the day.
ReplyDeleteCosby Cai
To my dear brother---You are catching up to me now!!! May this decade be the best. You are so special to me and I have enjoyed reading all the comments. I would add a few tidbits but know that you would get back at me come July. Have a wonderful day. I kept telling you I was going to have Chris on your birthday and he will be 35 on your big day. Now we have to see if we can make it 3 in the family to share a birthday. Will let you know if it happens. Greg said to tell you he will shoot for the 14th too--WHY NOT? Love you lots your sis
ReplyDeleteHello The Great Bill
ReplyDeleteWe wish you a very happy birthday, we can't believe it's 60th!
Hoping you'll enjoy this day and all...
Perhaps we will have the opportunity to drink a
"chti canon" together soon.
The 2 lovely girls of LCSB
Florence and Laurence
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteMy recommendation when it is someone's birthday, is; Today but only today, you can do what ever you want, as long as you want, with the limit you want....
Dear colleague, enjoy as much as you can, it is super deserved.
Glad to know you. Have a nice evening.
Jose TEROL (FTNY)