"NEWS ON THE RADIO HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
Ever since I was a little girl, I've had this funny idea about birthdays. While I love good birthday wishes, it's always made me wonder. I mean, I didn't do anything except get born (more effort of Ma Guth's there than mine) and manage not to die for another year. While, especially knowing me and some of the adventures I find myself on, this might seem like a feat of epic proportions, it's really pretty easy. I say that, but maybe I nearly miss death a hundred times and day and never realize.
Anyway, there is less than an hour left for me at my present age. At midnight, the clock rolls over on a new day and, for me, a new year. I wonder what this year will have in store for me? Did the guy in New Orleans seal my fate for a good year by throwing that spell at my feet? Maybe so. Hope so.
Also, this is a pretty important birthday, by my thinking.
When I was a little girl, I probably had an idea of what my life would look like tonight. I have no idea if it looks like I thought it would. I haven't gotten caught up in the trappings of a cultural idea, so much, of what I should be doing at my present age, as a writer, as a woman, as a wage earner and such. I don't look the same as I did in my early twenties, and I'm okay with that. I'm glad, even. I have a line or two, but I earned them. I have a lot of grey hair, but that's only less I have to bleach out to turn pink. Another perk I can't help but feel like I earned.
So, maybe that's where the real celebration is. Sure, I have made it to see another year of my life begin, but I've gotten here in my roundabout, adventurous, goofy way that is all my own and arrived with my way of moving through life and taking it all in and processing it in my way. I'm looking around my apartment as I write this and can't help but smile as I see a collection of things that represent all of those adventures.
That's good enough for me. It really is.
17 comments:
Happy birthday!
No matter where you end up, there you are.
Katie pimped me here to wish you all happiness! Enjoy!
Amy, wishing you a year full of happiness, fun and new surprises! Your post was great to read....some really thoughtful introspections. With each passing birthday we do look forward to newer hopes and expectations, and we love to be optimistic. We grow with each passing year, have grey hair, but we only become wise with each passing day.
Harpy Bird-day to you!
I think you've changed my entire way of thinking about birthdays. You're right, it's basically just a celebration of not having died for another year. Instead of "Happy birthday" we should be singing, "Happy You-Cheated-Death-Yet-Again Day!"
Still, I can't help myself. Happy birthday, Ames. Please manage to dodge death for another year, and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, many, many, many years after that. The world is a better place because you're in it.
I hope today is filled with laughter, jackassery and tattoos.
Thanks, you guys.
Ah, but as a birthday princess, I have a totally different perspective. We are celebrating you being on earth. We are celebrating YOU on this day. We are celebrating everything you have done and everything you will do, and we celebrate it once a year just like any major holiday. :)
(though my mom always felt SHE should get presents on my birthday--but I said that's what Mother's Day is for)
Happy day, my dear.
I'm late to the comment birthday party, but Happy Birthday! Happy Cheating Death Another Day Day! Happy Friday!
I could probably stand to learn a lot from you about birthdays, Diane. But for now, I am super-happy with a big latte, a nice bagel sandwich, my laptop, my favorite neighborhood coffee joint as I gear up to go get another tattoo. Ah. I created death another year. Let me do ink myself to hoedown about it.
Oops. That should be "cheated" not "created". Funny typo. (Thanks, P.)
Since I woke you up this morning with my lovely rendition of "Happy Birthday", I just wanted to tell you Happy Birthday for all the world to see. Hope your day is a blast!!!
Love you lots!!!
Mom
So what's the new tatoo?
Happy Birthday, Dearie. Wish I could be there to celebrate with ya. I left ya a little sumpin' sumpin' on my blog too.
There is a difference between living a year and simply existing another year.
You LIVE and because of that WE celebrate you!
You know, that's a good point. Thanks, John. I like that.
Happiest of birthdays!
I say Mazel!
You say Tov!
Mazel!
(Tov)!
Mazel!
(Tov)!
i am a day late but still- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
I've come to wish you a belated unhappy birthday...
(Strike ridiculous Morrisey pose.)
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