Happy Holiday Birthday
Today is my friend's 33rd birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, T!
But having a "holiday birthday" has GOT TO SUCK. At least I think so.
People tend to forget about your birthday, or try to "combine" gifts, so they don't have to buy more than one, like they would for everyone else who has a birthday not on or near a holiday. Or they try to combine get togethers, so they can say they celebrated your special day. What a joke. That is IF they aren't too busy to even remember your birthday.
My older sister's birthday is Dec. 26th. She's hated her birthday all her 39 years on earth. Everyone is usually too tired from the weeks of excitement and build-up to give a flying fuck about doing anything for her.
My nephew just turned 16 on Christmas Eve, so not only does he NOT get to celebrate with his mom, (dad has dibs thru the day after Christmas), but having a birthday party is out of the question. At least on his official day of birth.
And my oldest son's birthday is 6 months later (or earlier, if you like), near the biggest American Holiday: Independence Day. He has trouble getting his friends together for a party because most of them are away on vacation or have other plans for the 4th of July weekend. He's always wanted a waterpark birthday party, but no one is ever around to go.
I think I'm pretty lucky, tho, because my birthday is exactly 2 months after Christmas. Just enough time for everyone to get past those first shocking credit card bills, almost 2 weeks after Valentine's day, and long enough for me to figure out what I really want for my birthday that I didn't get at Christmas. hehehe.
When I was 11, my aunt and uncle chose my little sister's birthday (near mother's day) to have a BIG celebration for all three of us girls. They called it our "Un-Birthday" party. That was so cool for us that year.
Our house had caught fire and burned down just two days after Christmas*, so not only did we lose all our gifts, but my older sister lost her limited few birthday presents as well. The fire caused us to basically be homeless, though never on the street thanks to the generosity of others. We bounced around ending up at my dad's little one bedroom apartment with my future first stepmom, then when that went south, we were sent to Vancouver, Washington to live with my aunt and uncle. My first day of school there, was on my birthday, and to say I was sad would be an understatement. The airline had lost our luggage, so we all looked like homeless rag-o-muffins, lost without our mom, our home or any special toys to comfort us.
So having an "Un-Birthday" really was a life-saver for us that year. It redeemed all the bad we had gone through, while making us feel incredibly special.
And everyone deserves to feel special for ONE day, at least, each year.
I'd like to suggest that people like Tony be given an extra day, sometime during the un-busy part of the year, to be recognized and celebrated. To know that their birthdays are not forgotten or unimportant.
*It wasn't until just a few years ago (the fire was 25 years ago) that it occured to me that the fire was MY fault. It wasn't intentional, but it was ME who caused the fire that changed our lives forever. I believe this is where my depression began. At the ripe old age of 10. But then that's another post for another day.
But having a "holiday birthday" has GOT TO SUCK. At least I think so.
People tend to forget about your birthday, or try to "combine" gifts, so they don't have to buy more than one, like they would for everyone else who has a birthday not on or near a holiday. Or they try to combine get togethers, so they can say they celebrated your special day. What a joke. That is IF they aren't too busy to even remember your birthday.
My older sister's birthday is Dec. 26th. She's hated her birthday all her 39 years on earth. Everyone is usually too tired from the weeks of excitement and build-up to give a flying fuck about doing anything for her.
My nephew just turned 16 on Christmas Eve, so not only does he NOT get to celebrate with his mom, (dad has dibs thru the day after Christmas), but having a birthday party is out of the question. At least on his official day of birth.
And my oldest son's birthday is 6 months later (or earlier, if you like), near the biggest American Holiday: Independence Day. He has trouble getting his friends together for a party because most of them are away on vacation or have other plans for the 4th of July weekend. He's always wanted a waterpark birthday party, but no one is ever around to go.
I think I'm pretty lucky, tho, because my birthday is exactly 2 months after Christmas. Just enough time for everyone to get past those first shocking credit card bills, almost 2 weeks after Valentine's day, and long enough for me to figure out what I really want for my birthday that I didn't get at Christmas. hehehe.
When I was 11, my aunt and uncle chose my little sister's birthday (near mother's day) to have a BIG celebration for all three of us girls. They called it our "Un-Birthday" party. That was so cool for us that year.
Our house had caught fire and burned down just two days after Christmas*, so not only did we lose all our gifts, but my older sister lost her limited few birthday presents as well. The fire caused us to basically be homeless, though never on the street thanks to the generosity of others. We bounced around ending up at my dad's little one bedroom apartment with my future first stepmom, then when that went south, we were sent to Vancouver, Washington to live with my aunt and uncle. My first day of school there, was on my birthday, and to say I was sad would be an understatement. The airline had lost our luggage, so we all looked like homeless rag-o-muffins, lost without our mom, our home or any special toys to comfort us.
So having an "Un-Birthday" really was a life-saver for us that year. It redeemed all the bad we had gone through, while making us feel incredibly special.
And everyone deserves to feel special for ONE day, at least, each year.
I'd like to suggest that people like Tony be given an extra day, sometime during the un-busy part of the year, to be recognized and celebrated. To know that their birthdays are not forgotten or unimportant.
*It wasn't until just a few years ago (the fire was 25 years ago) that it occured to me that the fire was MY fault. It wasn't intentional, but it was ME who caused the fire that changed our lives forever. I believe this is where my depression began. At the ripe old age of 10. But then that's another post for another day.
posted by Zette at 2:00 PM
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