We Wish You A Happy Birthday
By Anna Hessel
It Only Comes Once A Year
Have you ever thought about why we celebrate birthdays? Is it because everyone deserves a special day of their very own; or do we just want an excuse to eat cake? Many of us have photos of that momentous first birthday with cake smeared all over the baby’s face. Some bakeries now even sell miniature ‘smash cakes’, for a nominal fee, of course.
No Pictures
I recall birthdays of my youth, complete with frosting pink roses on my cake. And great games like pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Was thinking of reprising the classic pinning game for my upcoming b-day, but alas, I have no picture of our current Oval Office occupant, no insult intended to all the donkeys out there.
The Way It Was
Children’s birthday parties of yesteryear included goody bags with sugary treats and plastic trinkets, and had old-fashioned fun, like board games and music from a stereo set up on a card table. Today, children’s parties are much more elaborate events, with clowns, bowling, pony rides, bouncy houses, kiddy-size race cars, and a trip to visit that gigantic cheesy mouse. Every little girl is a princess, and every little boy is a ninja. School treats must be individually wrapped, unlike the box of bakery cupcakes we all proudly passed around when I was in grammar school.
Memories
I fondly remember my sweet 16 surprise party – my best friend’s home adorned with pink and yellow crepe paper streamers, drinking Kool-Aid spiked orange juice punch, where my classmates presented me with a gaudy cubic zirconia necklace in a velvet-lined box. I will never forget the kiss on the cheek I received from singer, and teen heart-throb, Frankie Avalon, when I turned 17.
Celebrate You
A few years ago friends from a local band, The Stingrays, sang me a happy birthday salute from the stage of a small nightclub – where an audience member fueled by alcoholic beverage performed a bare-chested, beer-bellied dance just for me. Now, I spend most birthdays quietly at home with my husband, pets, and a few close friends and family members. On my last birthday I was treated to a wonderful production at Chicago’s Black Ensemble, an incredible evening of great music.
A Gift Shared
As my birthday approaches this year, I would like to ask those around me to provide a simple act of kindness towards someone in need. Mow your elderly neighbor’s lawn. Make two lunches and give one to the homeless man begging on the corner. Hold the elevator. Donate those unused toys to Toys For Tots. Give a friend a hug. Put down your phone and look for someone to smile at. Listen.
Another Year Passes
Birthdays can serve as a time of reflection and renewal, a time of faith, fun, a time to give of ourselves. Connecting with an old friend, taking a long walk on the beach, adopting a new pet, a relaxing day at the spa, or simply spending time with those you love. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned there are many great ways to celebrate you. Of course, I will always take the cake, no matter which birthday I am blessed to be celebrating; maybe Hallmark has a card to express this sentiment. No matter what time of the year it falls, we wish each and every one of you a happy birthday.
Ms. Hessel is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists
