It's almost birthday time.

This week, I will celebrate another birthday.

To be honest, for several years now, birthdays -- at least to me -- haven't been that big of a deal.

I have viewed those days as just another day. I'll still get up at the normal time and head to work, go through this routine and come home.

Sunday, my mom, dad and grandfather came to visit my fiance and I. They wanted to give me a birthday present. They also had a chance to check out our house again.

I distinctly remember saying my birthday really wasn't that big of a deal. My fiance pointed out last year, she asked me if I wanted to do something special on my birthday.

My response was no.

And it was no again this year.

It's just another day.

But Monday, while I was putting together our Tuesday newspaper, I thought I'd search the Internet for famous birthdays for that "special" day.

The results were somewhat surprising.

Apparently, I share a birthday with a PGA Tour winner (Sam Snead), an Oscar winner (Louis Gossett Jr.), a Wimbledon champion (Pat Cash), a former NFL kicker (Nick Lowery), The Big Hurt (Frank Thomas), The voice behind "Thriller" (Vincent Price), former NBA star George McCloud, politican Christopher Dodd, former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Andre Benjamin of OutKast fame, former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, Todd Bridges (Willis from "Different Strokes"), actor Christopher Lee and "Wild Bill" Hickok, among others.

It's interesting to see who you share birthdays with. I was completely unaware Louis Gossett Jr. was born that day.

To all born that day, Happy Birthday. Enjoy the day.

As for me, I'll get up and go to work. Just like I did the day before and just like I will do the day after.

Birthdays, at least to me, don't have the luster and excitement they used to.

I wish I could still gaze at that special day with a "child's eyes," anticipating the excitement of opening each gift like you may never get another one.

But at least I can try.