I think human beings love ritual and celebration. Still I find it interesting that we celebrate the day we were born. When I had kids myself I felt the desire to celebrate becoming a mother to each kid, but that's not really the same thing as celebrating them. Although it did become a celebration of them.
What I'm wondering is why we continue those celebrations into adulthood. Why do we almost universally celebrate with cake. Where did the candles come from? Just...what the heck is this all about? I went and read about the history of birthday celebrations; that still doesn't explain why we do it.
My own birthday is coming up soon and people are already asking me
what do you want to do on your birthday? What can I buy you?
The truth is, I don't want anything. I never want anything.
I don't even like cake!
 |
| THIS is what I want for my birthday. |
I used to LOVE the homemade cards and gifts. But they won't do those things anymore. It is no longer about what I want, but what they want to do for me. If it was for me they would each get a piece of paper and write loving things, draw or make something for me, and simply spend the day with me. Time. Time is the ultimate expression of love.
Instead they wish to buy me stuff...
Too funny Karen. I got married on my birthday which some might see as a mistake. There's a story behind that but unfortunately, what I wasn't aware of was the fact that it was also the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, something my husband did not follow then but shortly after we married and he went back to his church, it became something he did. The days change each year. Earliest is late September all the way to almost the end of October. This year, it started on the 5th and since it's 8 days, it ends on the 12th with the 11th (my birthday) being a high holy day starting at sundown. So he won't be here and my youngest won't be here. They'll be back the next night. My oldest will be on a school trip until that afternoon and I work until 5. It will be my third day at my new job. The girls are big about planning things for me. My oldest especially I'm thinking this is her love language because she's known to go all out for these days (Mother's Day as well). I've given up expecting much from my husband though and these days barely even acknowledge that it's also our anniversary. That's just how things are. For the moment, my oldest and I are planning to a trip to a local pizza place that has various crazy pizza concoctions (it was actually one of those Food Network shows) that night after work. I can get their buffet for free and she can as well if she uses her D.A.R.E. card. The plan then is to get ice cream or some kind of desert on the way home. Nothing too fancy or crazy as we both have somewhere to be the next morning. My youngest has already informed me she is planning to get me something and feels bad she won't be here for that day. Kids definitely make a big deal about birthdays. But it's sweet.
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