The Birthday

I don't much like birthdays.  I don't mind your birthday.  I don't like my birthdays. Not so much that I'm a year older, which is great when you're 15, but I don't like celebrating me.  I don't mind celebrating you but I get embarassed when it's my turn. 

So, another birthday today.  Here's how it started.  4:15 am I hear yowling, not barking, yowling, from downstairs.  It was a mellow bellow and my first thought, actually it was my first hope, was that one of the dogs was singing happy birthday to me. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.  A few minutes later I realized I wasn't  dealing with canine kudos.  It was like a pet in distress.  I ran down stairs and the newest member of my pet pool, Warren, had become Mr.Poopy drawers.  I let him out to do his business while I tidied up the rest of his business,  

I thought, my God, my birthday and it's probably only going to get worse.  Thank the afore mentioned  all mighty it didn't

Now, I don't believe in horoscopes.  But once a year I read my birthday horoscope and every year I quibble with the sibyl.  Today's read.....You're beautiful.  I checked the mirror.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I didn't behold a lot of beauty. Although like most of us I still look 10 years younger and 15 pounds lighter than I actually am.  It said I was intelligtent. Hmmmm,  then how come I can't figure out how to change my f/b picture,  I don't know how to load my ipod and I trust car salesmen. 

It also said I possess musical talent.  I was asked to leave my grade 8 choir. I can't play a note on any instrument.  It told me that I was mesmerizing.  Once someone looks into my eyes they'll be smitten for life. You know whose eyes I'm looking into right now.  Simon, my cat.  I don't think the kitten is smitten.  I think he wants cat treats. 

I can remember my best birthday ever.  Actually it wasn't mine, it was my daughters'.  Her birthday is July 4th, mine is the 5th.  When she was 5 years old I took her and her brother over to Niagara Falls N.Y. We had pizza at La Hacienda and then went over to Pine St. for a chicken wing chaser at Honey's.  We went to the Cave of the Winds which takes you underneath the falls.  And then, once it got dark I drove to a park where they were setting off a brilliant display of 4th of July fireworks.  I told her..."sweetie this is for your birthday".   She was awestruck.  It gave me shivers.

My daughter also gave me the worst birthday I ever had.  She turned 16 the day before I turned 40.  I had a meltdown.  16 was so vivid to me.  It was like yesterday.  High school, basketball, school dances.  How did I all of a sudden become 40 when yesterday I was 25? This time I was awestruck and I got shivers again. 

Now, it's been more than 6 months since I left my last job.  Let's be honest, since I was asked to leave my last job.  I live in a rural area and it's pretty isolated. Over  that time one of the things that's kept me in contact with people and helped be from going from inane to insane  has been been facebook.  I was overwhelmed today with all the birthday greetings and I want to thank all of you for taking the time.  The doctor says I can't drink beer anymore so I raise a glass of wine to all of you. Simon says ditto.