The Thing About Birthdays-RevGalBlogPals

This week’s Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals has to do with birthdays,and there are, as promised, 5 questions about the topic to inspire.

How about you? What do you think of birthdays?

1. What are your feelings about celebrating birthdays, especially your own?

Birthdays were always a big deal growing up in my family, so I tend to look forward to them with childlike expectation that is often disappointed because my husband grew up in a house that didn’t make a big deal of birthdays. I have faced several monumental birthdays with discouragement though too. We have moved to a new state a few months before I turned 30 so what I would have enjoyed wasn’t possible (a big party with all my friends). Turning 35, really 36, was a big let down too, because it meant the passing of “young adulthood” and the idea that I was leaving behind a very special demographic that offered such great opportunity, especially in the church world.

Forty was hard also, because I had great dreams of making a big trip to Ireland with my best friend. It just wasn’t possible financially and my job in the church was rapidly slipping away (I lost it 10 days later).

All that aside, I usually do look forward to my birthday and try to enjoy it. I found last year that birthday greetings from my Facebook friends really meant a lot to me, especially those from folks who put apparent effort into the wish.

2. Do you have any family traditions about birthdays?

My parents always call, usually first thing in the morning, and sing to me. I love it. We also tend to let the birthday person choose the meal for the night, whether I cook or we go out. And partied for my kids are important. My younger son was really put out because we didn’t have a party this year. But my older son (who turned 9), really pushed to make sure we did.

A fun tradition I picked up from a childhood friend involves screaming when cutting the cake. She told me she learned it in Hong Kong. The birthday girl/boy makes the first cut in the cake and screams when the knife hits the bottom of the cake to wake up the birthday spirits so they will know it’s time to grant your wish. What kid doesn’t like to scream on their birthday?

3. Is it easy to remember friends’ and family members’ birthdays? If so, how do you do it?

For the most part I do remember birthdays of those closest to me. Those usually get a phone call or a gift or both. Definitely the spouse and kids get gifts.

4. What was one of your favorite birthdays? (or your unhappiest?)

I think my most memorable birthdays were in high school and involved kidnapping me in my pajamas and going to IHOP for breakfast.

5. Post anything else you want to share about birthdays, including favorite foods, songs, and/or pictures.

I love the new American Cancer Society ad campaign about making more birthdays. Though the tumor I’m being treated for is considered benign, my goal is still the same: to be healthy enough to enjoy many, many more birthdays. I’d like to make it to 90! (Please God?)

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