I'm Happy I Was Born

This year my birthday got stretched out like taffy, which was perfectly fine by me. March is the perfect month to have a birthday in because it’s far enough away from any other major holiday to really get celebrated (no offense, St. Patrick).

The festivities were kicked off Birthday Eve by going to a musical with my sister Anna (who was born the day after my 5th birthday and is therefore linked inextricably to the day). On the 14th itself, I went skiing for the first time in 10 years. A friend and I had already planned on going when a client serendipitously gave her free passes to The Canyons in Park City. We had schizophrenic weather—-blue skies at the bottom of the lift, a wind storm going up and then powdery flakes coming down—then a different combination the on next run, but had a great time! That night I went to dinner with my parents. It was lovely to celebrate the anniversary of the day with those who were originally there. I’m so grateful for such a wonderful mom and dad.

I’d been getting emails with 34 things people loved about me, 34 red cherries, 34 pens, 34 Laffy Taffy’s—but when a person that had no way of knowing it was my birthday called—I knew something was up. It took me about 2 minutes to mentally trace the trail back to LauraLee. As my consummate birthday friend, I instinctively knew she’d found a way to let people know it was my birthday. Only later did I find out she’d mined the “to” addresses in emails I’d sent and sent word to my Facebook friends.

Apparently, you don’t have to be under 10 to have a “Princess Party” because LauraLee got some of my friends together and threw me one. I had a crown, princess napkins, princess food (apples for Snow White, pumpkin fluff for Cinderella etc.), and everyone had to say what princess I reminded them of. Princess presents and clips from favorite princess movies finished it off. My mom just commented in amazement, “Who has friends like that?”

On Sunday I had a delectable birthday dinner with my sister Becky and my nieces and nephews and we watched my newest 4 hour BBC obsession “North and South.” I had another delicious dinner and chat with my sister Naoma and her family, and went shopping with sister Michelle and niece Anneka and recieved many lovely presents, phone messages and texts wishing me happy.

Is it any wonder I love my birthday?