His birthday got me thinking back through my own. Although, I'm a December, which others who share in this know there isn't as much hoopla because Christmas is soon. I don't care. Birthdays are not an end all, be all, event for me. I don't have wild & crazy tales, I don't go on trips or check off activities from an invisible list of stupid ideas. I've had only one proper party, and I've never been a "birthday month" or even a "birthday week" kinda bird. It feels groovy to be alive, and I dig other people being happy I live, but ultimately it's just another day. Like as long as people enjoy me the other 364 (sometimes 365) days per year, I'm content.
But I do think it's interesting to reflect upon your life, especially when every living thing shares at least this similarity. I thought I'd talk about my experiences from a perspective of not caring, in the hopes you'll share more about yours.
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- Birthdays through age 9, would be visits to Disneyland. One particular year, my parents arranged for several characters to surprise visit us while we were eating breakfast. Back then, it was held within a restaurant near the square (off to the right and through golden doors, if you know the park.) Now, I believe it's used for daily, large group birthday celebrations. But at this time, it was very limited with special pancakes, which were always my favourite. The waiters sang while the characters clapped and in the end, they gave me a special rubberized birthday Mickey. I don't have it anymore.
- 10 or 11: I was heavily into New Kids on the Block. There, I said it. I asked for stickers and trading cards (when you could buy them at all kinds of stores) and bedsheets and their 12" doll incarnations. I played with them a ton until I didn't. And c'mon, we all choose silly things in our past when they mean the most, so I'm not embarrassed... just a little humbled.
- 13: I had my first sleepover party. Because 13!!! I know I had a good time but the biggest wow moment happened around midnight. Me and 5 or 6 of my friends were up late talking about boys. We were drinking tasty hot chocolate, sitting in my parents dining room which was next to the living room, where the back door led to the garage. Mid-laugh was when we ALL heard a large number of boxes fall over in said garage. There was no denying the sound because everyone has heard cardboard when it topples. We stopped and looked at each other like WTF. I knew my dog was out there so maybe, just maybe, she was chasing something. I don't know how, but I mustered up the courage to declare I would investigate. I also insisted everyone come with me in case it was a monster/baddie/demon, etc, that only the power of cackling girls could defeat. We went outside and you'll never guess what we found. nothing. ABSOLUTELY, 100% ZIP, NADA, NOTHING! The garage was exactly the same as it was during daylight. No boxes had fallen over, no critters running about, the dog had sleepily opened her eyes, it was as if we all had the same momentary hearing hallucination... spooky shit huh.
- 14 or 15: my parents forgot my birthday until I came home from school.
- High school years... I don't remember because I was enjoying pleasing, mind-altering activities with my bestest friends. Which is kinda like a party all the time, so there.
- 19 or 20: My boyfriend took me to Olive Garden. Not because I enjoyed it and not even by his own decision. He only took me because I asked him to. Our relationship was downgrading significantly. We weren't communicating well and he was spending more time with his friends, than me. So I thought if we could do something coupley for my birthday, just spend an evening together, that would help us feel right again. I half-hardheartedly chose Olive Garden only because in the Antelope Valley, that was kinda schmancy. I didn't care where, I just wanted to spend time getting back to what I thought us, was. Instead, he buried his face with some college homework. The only time we spoke, outside of ordering, was when I asked him to stop studying for a few minutes. He declined because it was more important he pass his test the next day. I cried into my fettuccine. The only reason I didn't leave is because we drove together and I couldn't bring myself to leave him there.
- 20-22: I was drinking a lot and don't remember. Although, I do know it wasn't nearly as fun as when I was altering in high school. bummer.
- 23: My first birthday with Travis. He gave me an "A Christmas Story" lunchbox, complete with thermos. I still use it today because I dig me some lunchboxes.
- Dirty 30 Indeed. Watch out now. Spent that Thursday working from home and taking care of Travis. He had been released from the hospital a couple weeks prior, after going through major disc surgery for his low back. My girlfriends' 30ths, were fun-filled weekend celebrations. To which each were awesome and a half. But I didn't care about that. Travis' quality of life was way more important than getting debaterous and yelling "Dirty 30... woooooooo!" to strangers and waking up with a righteous hangover.
- 34: This is in a few months, so I can only speculate. But I hope to FINALLY get my birthday cake that is shaped like another food. I'm obsessed with this notion and refuse to give myself one for above reasons. If there will be presents exchanged for my birthday, I want someone to offer because they want to, not because I've begged. I've asked for this little slice of smile since I've known the birthday boy. And to his credit, he did try one year from a bakery we heart. However, because it's close to xmas, they couldn't do it. Gee whiz, huh. But Travis, ehem... I'd settle for one in November or January. ;-)
An outsider looking in may say how sad some of these were. But I don't. I mean yes, some blow pretty hard, but these could have happened on any day of the year. We just remember it more because we're conditioned to reminisce upon at minimum, one day that is kinda for ourselves.
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