All About Me

The candles don't lie: 39 years ago today.

On my sixth birthday, as the last notes of Happy Birthday faded, I inhaled dramatically only to have another kid blow out the candles before I did. In her defense, the little girl was only three. I wasn't, however, thinking "in her defense" at the time. I was pissed. Thirty-six years later, I'm still a little peeved about the whole thing.

When I was six, I thought my birthday was all about me. Now that I'm forty-two, I only think it's mostly about me.

I am one of those people who loves my birthday and relishes the attention. None of this "I'm too old for that" stuff for me. Once a year, it's My Day around here.

I don't want or need a party; I can't remember the last time I had one of those. I rarely have a cake. My husband and I are spotty about gift-giving, so I often don't even receive much in the way of gifts (Mom and Dad always come through). Now that we've all gone digital, I only receive birthday cards from my in-laws, parents, and grandmother.

What makes my day are the well wishes, the "happy birthdays," the calls/emails/texts from friends and family. As with holiday cards, it warms my heart to know that someone I care about is thinking about me. Someone special to me has been reminded to reach out, even if it was Facebook that reminded her and she sent only a "hope you have a great day." The littlest things are meaningful.

I wasn't expecting much today--a Wednesday birthday doesn't present much opportunity for celebration. Despite what I think, the regular schedule is still in force; the laundry still needed to be done. I did the laundry, but I also had a great birthday. My friends made this average Wednesday (and yesterday's average Tuesday evening) a special day for me with a surprise cake and gift, coffee and conversation, texts, emails, and Facebook greetings. My kids serenaded me with Happy Birthday before saying "hello" this morning, and they waited until I was awake, showered, and dressed to do so. On my way out the door for school drop-off, my husband handed me a gift certificate to buy the newest technology for which I've been dropping hints-like-hammers, and the happy device is in hand and soon to be fully configured.

The kids were quite insistent that I (they) needed a cake, so I picked up one when grocery shopping today. That earned me a second Happy Birthday, a candle and wish, and cake for dinner.

A girl in mid-life couldn't reasonably ask for more on a not-so-average birthday Wednesday. If you were one of the many people who contributed in any small way by making me feel appreciated today, thank you. As a wise friend reminded me last year, every day on this side of the grass is a good one; this was an especially good one.