Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Birthdays - the good, the bad and the . . .


I have to start by saying I am not complaining. Really, I'm not. I am soooo blessed and I do know how blessed I am.

My birthday was on Sunday. Whenever anyone in our family has a birthday, we start the day with breakfast together. It doesn't have to be fancy, but we always set the table to make it feel that way.

This Sunday I knew that my daughter and husband had to leave at noon. They let me know that we would have breakfast together before they left, and they would be home to make me dinner and had invited my mother and friend to join us that evening.

So, Sunday morning we all enjoyed a much needed sleep-in. I was hungry when I woke up, but I didn't get myself anything to eat, because I was waiting for everyone. I was reassured several times that soon they would get breakfast together.

Finally, at 12:05 my daughter and husband apologized profusely that they had let the time slip up and ran out the door. My nine year old son had cut up a peach for himself. I peered into the bowl of mush. It looked like he had pulled apart the ripe, mushy peach with his bare hands, squeezing as he went. He held the bowl out to me and asked, "do you want a piece of my peach?"

Fast forward to the evening when the guilty culprits returned with tails between their legs. They both promptly disappeared to do 'important' stuff. I was worried because I knew people were coming over, and I generally prepare before someone walks in the door.

I couldn't just sit by and watch more crashing and burning. I grabbed some cheese out of the fridge and poured some crackers on a platter just as the doorbell rang. I sent my son to find the scoundrels that were supposed to be making dinner.

They came and sort of pulled it together. There was a lot of talking and joking as we waited and waited for food to be prepared. At every opportunity my daughter disappeared, and we had to call her back to join the festivities. Granted, she's a teenager, but she also LOVEs a party.

When I opened my gifts, there were potted herbs for my herb garden, some great placemats, a Barnes and Noble gift card that will be used before you know it. My son made me a gorgeous bracelet out of purple string and silver beads. My husband gave me the big finale - something I had been really wanting - the Bamboo fun tablet for doing artwork and crazy creative stuff on my computer. My daughter's gift was conspicuously missing. She said she was still working on it.

The next night there was a beautifully wrapped gift on my bed. Within the homemade sparkly paper I discovered an amazing photo album full of our family at different ages. Every page was completely covered with colorful clippings, creative doodads and scrapbooked sayings all straight from my daughter's heart.

It might be my favorite gift - ever. But, next year I want to eat before noon!

10 comments:

The Mother said...

At my house, birthdays are celebrated when it's convenient for all concerned.

Which means that, occasionally, they aren't celebrated until two or three weeks later.

Our all time record was six months.

But we always have a lot of fun, when we actually get around to it.

rosedale's 4head said...

this is the sweetest endearment...i know you had a blast...even the hunger is worth the waiting...(but really, that's when you sneak and grab something while everyone else is busy preparing)...hunger is not the best way to start a birthday...makes you grouchy...

i love the collaboration...you *r* blessed to have one of each...enjoy it...all the way through the squishy peaches and tardy prep...your daughter probably stole the day...just preparing for mom's birthday is an exciting event...sounds like she was in control of all...happy birthday!

Shawn said...

Sounds like it turned out pretty good in the end. Still, I know how you must have felt early on. There's something about your birthday...it sucks when people don't treat it as special. I usually demand at least a week.

37paddington said...

What a lovely gift from your daughter! Especially in this age when most photos are digital and you can't just hold them and browse through them anytime. She may not have made breakfast, but she poured a lot of love and time and thought about you into that album.

And that stylus and fun pad, as you know, I got one on Sunday for my birthday too! Let's hear for the May 3rd people! Happy birthday week. (No need to stop celebrating.)

Margo said...

Happy birthday! As usual, it sounds like the computer, the thing that is supposed to be making our lives better and more efficient, is responsible! Don't you bet your daughter got into making this fabulous project and it took longer - much longer - than she thought it would? It sounds like a wonderful gift to have now, though. Cake is important... even if it's just a krispy kreme with a candle in it. Everyone should be appeased with something decadent immediately upon rising on their birthdays!

Marie said...

Happy, happy birthday!!!

All around, it sounds like a good one. This was the good,the bad and the hungry. lol

Or did you already say that?

Oy, my short term memory is the pits.

37paddington said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Margo said...

hi, just dropping by to say, "hi"

37paddington said...

just saying hi. your blog friends miss you. hope you're having some fun.

Vic said...

Great story - I love the idea of the scrapbook, and the thought that went into it. A keeper for sure.

Also, I love the Wacom tablets. I use mine all the time.