Birthdays are not always easy. Well meaning people pull you one way – then another. Ever since 2002 I’ve thrown a party to celebrate my birthday. It’s one of the few pleasures that I indulge in and it only comes around once a year.
Even so, people got on my case; “Why do you make such a big deal out of it?” Or, “Why such an extravagance?” I’m thinking, “Golly, can’t they just enjoy the food and drink and have a good time?” But then I thought, maybe they have a point so this year I decided to celebrate my birthday alone – all alone with my four-legged companion, Izzy.
Then I was criticized for that. “You can’t celebrate your birthday alone”, they said. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. It just feels right.
The other thing is this: I’ve always asked, please do not bring a gift. If you bring a gift, it will probably be raffled off at one of our charities. Then I’m told that’s rude by a girlfriend of mine. So I told her for her birthday, “I will get you a dog bowl, a dog bone and a big bag of dog food.” She looked at me as if confused and said, “But I don’t have a dog.” “That’s right”, and that’s what you’re doing to me by bringing a gift. We’re still friends I hope.
A soul sister of mine will probably take me to see a Chinaman tomorrow who usually wants me to disrobe in a dark back room – then derives pleasure from making me feel like a Gumby doll. He’s not a big man, but has very strong hands. He has to as a massage therapist.
Last time I went there he said, “I make looser.” He wanted me take my bra off. I said, “Thank you but I’ll leave it on.” A dear friend of mine told me I’m like an onion; that I have many layers. Yea, well I’ve started peeling away many layers but that doesn’t mean I’m going to start peeling off everything. I’m still a small-town girl in many ways – sorry but that’s me.
And, finally my BFF will join me or shall I say she will take me to dinner tomorrow to celebrate both our birthdays together. No matter how much I say that I don’t want her to treat, she always goes above and beyond with her generosity, support and love. We will have dinner, play catch up and share the sincere friendship that we have shared for what seems a lifetime. I treasure, value and love her. I am able to be me and she can be herself. We both accept one another, just the way we are. That is the greatest gift!
I’m grateful for my circle of friends and all the people who called, sent cards or donated to the charity of choice. You’ve helped make this a very unique and truly wonderful birthday. You honored my wish.
Today, I celebrate life and all it’s blessings….
Thank you, God, for giving me another year of life. Thank you for all the people who remembered me today, sending good wishes my way. Thank you for all the experience of this past year; for times of success which will always be happy memories, for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you, for times of joy when the sun was shining, for times of sadness which drove me to you. Forgive me for the hours I wasted, for the chances I failed to take, for the opportunities I missed this past year. Help me in the days ahead to make this the best year yet, and through it to bring good credit to myself, happiness and pride to my loved ones, and joy to you. Amen.