Ninja Turtles and back-to-school are two things that probably don’t remind the majority of people of their birthdays, but ever since I was a kid, that is exactly what I think about when I think of my birthday.
Being the only girl out of a family of four, one would think I would be showered in girlie gifts and pink birthday decor while growing up, but having a birthday the day after my oldest brother made princess-themed birthdays not so practical.
My husband still laughs at me when I complain about having to share my birthday with my brother while growing up, where I’d often get Ninja Turtle-themed birthday cakes instead of Barbie cakes. Maybe this is where my slight lack of enthusiasm for my birthday stems from.
I suppose there are thousands of people out there who have to share their birthdays with twin siblings, but having someone the same age as you to celebrate alongside would be a lot more enjoyable than a brother who is five years older and doesn’t appreciate how cool things like Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony really are.
Having a birthday that often landed on one of the first days of school made for a day that many people simply forgot. And when my dad was still farming, having a birthday that landed at the beginning of harvest also made for a day that was overshadowed by things much more important.
Now, well into adulthood, similar things still seem to plague my birthday. I actually never got away from having to share my birthday, since my sister-in-law’s birthday is just two days after mine, and it is much more convenient to celebrate together than have separate birthdays.
Don’t get me wrong. I, like the majority of people, love having a day that I can use as an excuse to not do the dishes and eat as much chocolate cake as I want. Although, anyone that knows me knows that I have a husband who does most of the housework on any given day and chocolate cupcakes are often sitting on our counter even when there is no birthday to celebrate.
But last week, the actual day of my birthday didn’t get off to a good start when my youngest son decided he was sick at 1:30 a.m. and threw up in bed. Then at about 7 a.m., I was awakened by my husband doing the same. Thankfully, he made it to the bathroom on time.
When I eventually made it to work, I was feeling quite tired and still had quite a few things-to-do on my list, including writing this column.
One thing that is kind of fun about birthdays now is the amount of birthday wishes a person receives thanks to Facebook. Getting countless birthday messages, even if many are distant friends and acquaintances, makes a person feel a little more special. The first person to say happy birthday to me last week via Facebook was actually my cousin from Australia. She was a day early according to my calendar, but probably just on time according to hers.
And hands-down, one of the most awkward moments of the yearly birthday tradition is sitting at a table while other grown adults sing Happy Birthday. Thankfully, now that I have kids, they are eager and sitting on my knee, waiting to blow out the candles and taking a bit of the attention away from me.
Overall, I guess my birthday is just another day on the calendar. Although, when it comes to my kids’ birthdays, those are completely different affairs, with lots of presents, guests, cake and fun.
