Tomorrow, May 6, is my birthday. In lieu of gifts, please share a birthday memory.
Here's mine:
For a party in the 1950s, little girls donned fancy dresses, buckled their patent leather Mary Janes, and played games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Drop the Clothespin in the Bottle, and Musical Chairs. Gifts might include Colorforms, paper dolls, a Slinky, or a board game like Uncle Wiggily. A lucky girl like me, who had a spring birth date, might receive a shiny new bike or wagon to enjoy as the weather got warmer and we headed outdoors for long afternoons of play.
As a special treat, I was allowed to eat cake for breakfast the next morning, quite a concession for my loving but strict parents to make.
These days, my birthday parties more often take the form of dinner with my husband, two children, and their spouses [my dear son-in-law had to work and missed this outing]. This year's gifts included a gift certificate and a Pilates mat.
My birthdays roll merrily along and each year brings new experiences. This is the first year I've had a blog to celebrate on and Twitter friends to celebrate with.
Isn't life grand!
14 comments:
Hau‘oli la hanau – Happy Birthday Diane!
I am so proud of you for posting this, for we adults need to celebrate these big days we have by having the grandest parties possible. Twitter friends and blogging friends do make it fun too :) I have a very recent birthday memory to share here:
http://tinyurl.com/62b9aa
The three younger brothers I had made sure the parties I had when younger did not quite look as calm and little-girl sweet as yours!
Wishing you the very best birthday possible Diane - hana hou for getting this head start, and much aloha!
Feliz Cumpleanos a ti, Feliz Cumpleanos a ti, Feliz cumpleanos Querida Diana, feliz cumpleanos a ti.
Ok now that we've gotten the singing out of the way.
I wish you a FABULOUS year filled with many special moments. I know you have so many people who call you friend and mentor, I am glad to be one of them. You add sparkle and inspiration to our little corner of cyberspace.
With lots of affection~Linda
A birthday memory-my fiance surprised me with a trip to NYC for my birthday four years ago. We spent the entire day at the Guggenheim looking at a collection of Aztec artifacts that had never travelled outside of Mexico, followed by dinner at an incredibly romantic restaurant in the Village and tickets to the Met to see Aida. What a birthday treat!
I was thinking that I didn't have any birthday memories and then remembered a birthday, I think I was about thirteen. My present was a tape recorder...Which I thought was the most amazing piece of technology.
I proceeded to record the party and later, myself singing. No one in my family knew that I secretly sang when no one was around. My sister borrowed my tape recorder at a later date and then, pleased by what she had heard, asked me to sing at her wedding. That was 1978 and after that exposure to performance, joined the choir. I became a music teacher and am currently in my twenty-second year of teaching.
Happy Birthday! Thanks for helping me bring back a memory!
Happy birthday, Diane! I love seeing the 1950s photo of the little girls all excited at the party.
My birthday memory is from 1963 or 1964 (can't remember if I was 8 or 9). I had always loved horses so my parents surprised me by renting a pony for my birthday party. My friends and I had a blast riding the pony through the yard and around the neighborhood.
I want to thank you for the invitation to stroll down memory lane. Although my memory is not detailed, I can remember the feelings of absolute happiness, bringing smiles to this weary face that is ready for summer vacation!
Happy Happy Birthday to you, Diane!
I don't think I ever got that dressed up for a birthday party but that's how we looked for our Easter Photos.
I remember the birthday when I got my first big bike, it was purple, and maybe a 3 speed. My mom took me to the school playground next door, a huge blacktopped area, and tried to help learn how to ride. Once she got tired out she let my best friend try it. My friend had no trouble and took right off on it. When I got it back that tinge of jealously that she could do it made me get back on with greater determination that I could do it too! And sure enough I took right off.
These stories will be fun to follow.
Thanks for bringing back the memory.
HB to you!! What a birthday treat! My birthday was always shared with a my grandpa, and so always took second fiddle, but I love papa so much it was treat just to share a birthday. Often times birthdays were right before, right after and on a few occasions, ON the last day of school (May 29) so I had many wonderful memories of birthdays. The town pool always opened on the last day of school. Now what more could a girl ask? This year's BD treat will probably be at Carraba's. my current favorite restaurant, but the best part is sharing it with friends and family. My husband and I have decided not to do gifts, but instead a dinner out, and a breakfast out the next day. We both get a treat! Happy, Happy birthday.
Happy Birthday from New Zealand. Like edu252 I couldn't remember many birthday celebrations from my younger days. But she reminded me of one as well. My gift was a Bakelite radio. Singing was also a passion. My favourites were the songs from The Sound of Music which I used to sing in the cowshed while I was milking the cows each afternoon. I wonder if it affected their milk production.
Enjoy your birthday and many more.
Cheers
Barb
Happy birthday to you!
I remember 1986, on the day of my 15th birthday, everyone in Manila was out in the streets celebrating the exit of the dictator-president, Ferdinand Marcos. Now THAT was a party to remember.
Happy Day! My favorite B'day was when I turned 40. A group of girlfriends and I went camping in the mtns and did a white water rafting trip the next day. Grand fun!
Happy Birthday! You've made it fun for all of us.
My favorite birthday memory was probably two birthdays ago when we took a vacation over July 4, celebrated my birthday, and got married.
What a wonderful birthday! Thank you all for stopping by and sharing a memory or two.
15th birthday. 1986. 1st period History class. Television wheeled in for live broadcast of Challenger lift-off.
21st birthday. 1992. Working at local deli. Phone call. Father. Cancer in remission.
34th birthday. 2005. Noise from monitor. 3:00AM. 1 month old son is hungry. I'm sitting on the rocking chair. He's taking his bottle. He's my son. He's my life. And then it hits me. My birthday, my real birthday, occurred a month earlier.
Happy Birthday. Whatever day you recognize!
I am a frequent reader of your blog
I just want to wish you a happy belated birthday!
Ken,
You are so right - there are many birth days in our lives, days of creation or renewal.
Joon,
You are always welcome here.
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