Birthdays

I have a simple philosophy about birthdays – the more the merrier! I love having birthdays. Not because I want gifts or parties, I just like knowing that I got to stay around for another year! On Sunday I will celebrate my 47^th. I suspect that the only person that it might bother is my Mom. She probably never gave much thought to that time when her own children would start to reach 50! Her son-in-law will turn 50 in just a few weeks.

I have 3 siblings – all brothers and all younger. My birthday is Sunday. Two days before my first birthday my gift was my oldest brother, Eddie. I initially tried to kill him but we eventually developed a very close bond that served us well in coordinating and hiding unsanctioned activities in high school. He turned out to be a really good and valuable birthday gift! We drove our Mom nuts and we know that because she STILL talks about it. So today, Happy Birthday to my brother and buddy, Eddie!

The day before my 8^th birthday my gift was…….another brother! He was also a special gift. My second brother had arrived 4 years earlier in May and my Dad desperately wanted another girl. Who can blame him – anyone would want a second “me”! Not really, but my Dad was confused that way. I however, was old enough to recognize that if a girl arrived in that tiny house that I would lose my special situation of being the only person in the house with space of my own. That wasn’t an acceptable outcome so I was praying like crazy for another brother! The family picked “girl” names and I picked “boy” names but it was my prayers that were answered that year. David is named after two boys in my 3^rd grade class. David also proved to be a very valuable gift. When he was young I was old enough to develop an understanding of child rearing. I credit him with my early and, never regretted, decision to not have children. I admire people that have children, it just wasn’t for me. Tomorrow I wish David a VERY Happy Birthday!

When I was growing up birthdays were not the big events that kids have today. The ingredients of every birthday party in our house were: us, neighborhood kids, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, cake, jello, chips, ice cream and iced tea.  That’s it and it was enough. My Mom did make us each our own cake and we each picked out our cake decorating package from the grocery store. Did anyone else have those hard cake decorations? I remember really enjoying picking my cake mix and my decorations. This photo from 1968 was repeated pretty much the same until I left home.

(That's brother #2 (Tim) in the front of the picture. )

Oh, maybe it was repeated longer than that because here we are sometime after I graduated college (1982) but before I married (1988). My Mom had retired from birthday cake baking by that time so we shared a fancy grocery store cake. How do you like my Richard Simmons shorts? 

It’s fun having them to share birthdays with.  Eddie and I still talk every year on his birthday and make note that for 2 days we are the same age – as if it’s a new phenomenon every year! What geeks.

My husband has only forgotten my birthday once. But we have that worked out since my birthday falls around Labor Day we now know to celebrate my birthday along with opening day of dove hunting season……whatever work!

I always do or buy something for myself for my birthday.  My best self-birthday gift was my 30^th birthday when I decided to get “fixed”. I tried to do it earlier but the doctors wouldn’t because “you’ll change your mind”. I finally found a female doctor that understood and agreed to do the surgery. I stopped having pregnancy nightmares after that. Too bad it didn’t stop me from sleep walking too. For my 45th birthday I bought Willie.

I still like to plan my own birthdays. I planned my 40^th birthday and will plan my 50^th too. I am not a fan of the surprise birthday – I am certain that if someone tried to throw one for me that I would screw it up for sure. This year we will be at Craft Week so I’ll make the vegan chocolate cake that everyone loves and Chris will make crab cakes and we’ll have a great dinner with friends watching the sunset at the river. Birthdays rock!

Comments

[Debra Spincic]

Happy Birthday to you (on Sunday)! Have a great time at Craft Weekend--sounds like fun!

[Cindy]

Happy Birthday, Vicki!

Yes, birthdays for me in my family of 9 (7 of us plus mom and dad) were very much like yours. Cake, ice cream,and soda. No streamers or decorations. Mom did bake a lot, but it was always the store bought cakes.

The best part of birthdays was to get to have leftover cake and ice cream for breakfast the morning after. Mom always saved at least one piece for this purpose.

I did occassionally have a floor show, but that was after mom and/or dad had one too many Rolling Rocks. Nothing that would mar my celebration, just a little dance or a special song! I cannot tell you how many times my Dad performed "Get along home Cindy" or the Marine Corp song (from the halls of Montezuma...) for me!

Ahhhh...such are memories!

But {singing} happy birthday to you!

[floribunda]

I'm with you on the early decision not to have kids, but I never did find a doctor willing to "fix" me when I wanted to be... I made it through, though!

Happy Birthday!

[Summerset]

Happy Birthday to you! Our birthdays were pretty similar to yours - mom made a cake, usually cut into some shape and home decorated. When we got older, she'd buy the ice cream cakes and rolls from Baskin Robbins. I have one little brother and although he is 6 years younger, he came in handy at times, too. ;)

[vicki]

Happy birthday! I have 3 younger brothers and my elder sister has 4 children. That put me off having children but eventually I gave in to pressure and had one (two now actually). MY first born was my 33rd birthday present. So for the past 16 years my birthday has been pushed aside for hers. But I love her to bits and it is kinda fun sharing. Sofie the younger daughter will be 14 on September 30 and she plans her birthday weeks in advance. She has it all worked out already.

[Karol-Ann]

Hope you have a Happy Birthday! And of course many more.

[Lindah]

Happy, happy birthday! Sounds like a cool birthday weekend in store.
I, too, was an only daughter oldest child. Rather a nice position...except that I was expected to be the substitute mommy a lot of the time. But it was nice being in that position of authority. I didn't waste it. ;-)

[Deb Levy]

Oh my God.. your family pictures look like ours!... only I was the oldest of six (Mary reminds me of the 'oldest' part at every opportunity) 2 boys and 4 girls.

Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

[Tracey Petersen]

Many happy returns! Craft week sounds like the ideal place for you to spend a birthday. Buy yourself something wonderful!

[Michele at Sweet Leaf]

Happy Birthday!

My brother's birthday came 1 week before my first birthday. I could never figure out why his birthday came first, if I was the older kid ...

I know what you mean about having the child-rearing stuff burn out early. I "raised" my younger brother and sister while my mom went back to school. I was the housewife and get the kids off to school person. As a result, I had no desire to have kids when I was older. I do have 1 serendipity child. Fortunately, my husband is the nurturing one. I'd be perfectly happy to do my own thing in the sewing room ...

Enjoy Craft Week! Can't wait to hear your progress reports on what you've accomplished!

[Sharon]

Happy Birthday! We had birthday celebrations just like your family did. I *loved* those pre-packaged hard candy cake decorations :-)

[Mary]

Those photos could be of our family....we had the same at home and backyard parties depending on what time of year and whose birthday we were were celebrating.

I must be more selfish than you because my brother Kevin is a year and a week older than me and I used to HATE that our birthdays were always celebrated together.

[Mary]

Ooops, forgot the wish you a happy birthday this week. Sounds like craft week on the lake is a perfect gift.

[Judy Rys]

Happy Birthday Vicki. Hope you have lots of fun.

[Lisa Thiessen]

Happy Birthday!

I'm with you on the 'more is better' thing about birthdays...hope you have a really wonderful time out there at the lake. And I KNOW you'll have fun with craft week.

All the best!

L

[Barbara]

Happy Birthday! Enjoy your celebrations. I love your post. Your childhood birthday memories are a lot like mine with the cake, and ice cream parties. I think birthdays were also one of the few occasions on which we'd have soda. We always celebrated with aunts, uncles and cousins. We could have a pretty big party with just relatives.

[Eileen Keane]

Have a great day filled with love, laughter and wonder!!!

[Marisa]

Hope your birthday is great! Maybe you get some quilt-y gifts this year! I did recently, and I'm loving them!

[Randi]

Happy Birthday, Vicky!! Wow, from your pic, I wouldn't guess a day over 37!

[Carole Meier]

Happy Birthday! Wishing you many more!

[Tazzie]

Happy belated birthday Vicki, I hope you had the very best day!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)