Birthdays have been a fun touchstone to our past (as we grow older), even as they started out as benchmarks of our futures (as we anticipated gaining another year as kids). They may be raucous and eventful: parties, cake and ice cream, gifts, friends, games, and so on. (Brief aside: what's the appeal of cake,ice cream and punch served all together? Too much sugar; I take either cake or ice cream, and with water, no punch please). They may also be quiet, reflective, a chance for solitude and taking stock of where we've been and where we're headed. Some birthdays stick in our memory years later, others must have been 'just another day' as little as they are recalled now. So today, let's talk a bit about memorable birthdays we've had.
| Waaay at the back, 11th. birthday in Missouri |
For my part, the first birthday I recall was my 4th. Mainly because I remember receiving a View Master viewer and accompanying Huckleberry Hound reels. My 9th. birthday was spent at the movies, seeing "The Love Bug". At 11, I was in Missouri visiting relatives; they gave me a fishing pole and I spent the afternoon fishing in the Merramec River.
For birthday16, my parents arranged a surprise party, and practically all my friends were there. I should have suspected: my comic book pal had asked me to accompany him to the bookstore that afternoon, and it wasn't new comic day...
| My boys helping me with the candles... |
At 21, my college friends helped me 'imbibe a few'. At 27, I had my first birthday as a parent, and got those first cute cards from the little ones. Still have those around here somewhere.
There have been many others, some I remember well, others have faded. How about you; any birthdays that really had an impact? Memorable gifts, guests? I have a summer birthday,so never had school on my big day. But never had a class party either. How about you? Grab a piece of cake and unwrap your stories for the rest of us...