"Happy Birthday to Me. Happy Birthday to Me." That's what my father used to sing on his birthday. Being the typical daughter, I would smile at him, slightly embarrassed that he would sing Happy Birthday to himself. But as I look back at my younger years, I realize that my dad was the only adult in my life who truly celebrated his birthday. All the others, my mom, grandma, aunts and uncles, would hide their age. Often they would say "I don't celebrate birthdays anymore" as if it was a terrible event.
But thanks to my father, I've always seen my birthday as a celebration. Of course, growing up in New England when November meant cold weather and brown scenery without any pretty snow to lighten the mood, any excuse was good enough for a little celebration. But to truly enjoy a birthday, it had to be my dad's way. So here are a few tips I follow when celebrating my birthday. Feel free to steal a few, if not all :-)
1) Make it all about me. This is the day I came into this world to make my mark, to add something to life on this planet and there will never be another one like me (no snickering please). It's the one day I can celebrate me! What's wrong with admitting I may have added a little value to life in general?
2) Make it about being grateful. First, I have lived to celebrate another year. Whoohoo! We all lose friends and family along our life journey, but it is our journey and we are still here. Second, look back at what I have done so far. Sure I've made mistakes, but did I learn from them? Oh yeah. Do I have regrets? A few, but I take my lessons from them and let them go. Third, I review my accomplishments, all those wonderful success I've had. Some may seem tiny to others, but they all mean something to me and thinking about them is a wonderful endeavor. I have been so lucky!
3) Make it about a new start. I gave up on New Year's resolutions a long time ago, but there is something so personal about a birthday and the fact that it is the start of a new year for me, me specifically (and all those other people born on November 6th :-). This is a chance to look at what I want the next year of my life to be about, what I want it to look like, who I want to enjoy it with. It is a new beginning!
4) Lastly, enjoy the gifts. I enjoy the gift of the day and waking up knowing it is my birthday. I enjoy the card my husband gives me that always makes me cry because it is so beautifully worded and its meaning always touches my heart. I enjoy the little and sometimes big gifts I may receive. Okay, this year was one of the best. Take a look at the photo of the gift I received from my husband! Yes, that's a 5 foot Claymore Sword. What can I say, he knows my heart :-)I decided this year, since my blog posting fell on my birthday, that I wanted to share some of the joy of my birthday, so I am giving away a $10 gift card to Amazon. So if you like to celebrate birthdays, then leave me a comment and let me know, share your memories, make me laugh. Today is a day to celebrate and I can't wait to give away this small present.
The winner will be chosen on Wednesday. Yes, I like to string out my birthday as long as possible :-} Be sure to leave contact information if I don't have it already. I will announce the winner in the right column under WINNERS.
Happy Birthday to me! "Thanks Dad for making it such a wonderful day :-)"
Alexis
Happy birthday!! What an awesome gift. When I was young my older brother used to hide my gift and give me hints to find it. I loved that!! One year I got new roller skates. I found them in the fridge! So, in honor of that tradition I have my kids find one last Christmas present doing the same thing. They're older now so it's harder to make hard clues, but they love it! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteLove your thought re birthdays Alexis. Beautifully written as always. I loved my. 40th. I celebrated many new beginnings with a snowboard class in new falling snow followed by glass of wine in the hottub. Bliss. Can't wait to see your new beginning unfold.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, my friend! I'm so glad you were born. You have enriched my life in so many ways simply because you're "you" and I am blessed. Celebrate the accomplishments you've already met and look forward to the new ones in this next year on your journey!
ReplyDeleteMarie
Happy Birthday, Alexis!! What a beautiful blog post. It's wonderful to see someone feeling positive and happy about birthdays. And I loved your gift. I have to get one of those. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to a fabulous writing friend! Your post is so refreshing and it's good to hear you value this day as you should.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great present from a husband who definitely put thought into it. Are you going to learn how to use it?:)
When I met my husband, we started birthday week-or first year together my b-day fell on opening gun hunting day(coming soon)and he felt bad that he traditionally spends that day in the woods. He treats me to little gifts every day!
Also, my mom helps me in the fact that she is still young, so I think that if I can be like her in 22 yrs, then another birthday won't be the end of the world.
Again, have a great birthday and feel special all year!
Dawn
Wow, thank you all for coming to the party!
ReplyDeleteMJ - What a great idea to hide gifts and leave clues. My husband just puts my presents wherever I normally go like the tea cabinet, the bathroom, the dresser draw. I never know what or when I will find something :-)
AMBER - That's the way to celebrate a birthday! For my 40th I moved to Arizona for a new adventure. That was fun, but I like my new place even more :-) Thank you for the compliment and the phone call :-)
MARIE - I plan on having you right alongside me as this new year rolls out, so don't plan on going anywhere. You are a great friend and critique partner!
ReplyDeleteVONDA - Yes, YOU definitely need a Claymore. It's so fun to play with. Every time my husband steps outside I just have to pick it up :-)
HAPPY BITHDAY! I love your gift.
ReplyDeleteOne of most memorable birthdays was a few years ago. My husband was trucking at the time so he rose and left the house very early. WHen I woke hours later, I came out to the kitchen and on the counter was HAPPY BIRTHDAY written in toothpicks and surrounded by butter knives in a design. Something so simple menat the most to me and for him to take the time to do it and think of it..... I loved it! WHne he got home later and we celebrated, I made sure to tell him how special I thought the greeting was. He still surprises me like that today!
I hope you have many more wonderful days.
DAWN - I definitely like your idea of Birthday Week. How fun! I'm looking forward to another great year of having you here on HEAT. I couldn't have kept this blog going without you girl!
ReplyDeleteSARAH - Wow, what a thoughtful and detailed thing for him to do! I love it! We are so lucky to have these men in our lives. No wonder we write romance :-) Thank you for the warm wishes :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Alexis--I have always silently celebrated my birthday, but I was too bashful to actually attempt to celebrate it out loud... Thanks for the story it truly gives an insight about celebrating ones date of birth and being grateful for another year... Love the Claymore your hubby got you... Many many birthday wishes... and from now on I'm going to celebrate my birthday like a 10 year old.
ReplyDeleteLIZ - Whoohoo! I've have a convert. Yes! Do celebrate your birthday. Let everyone know! Have fun! And thank you for stopping by to help me celebrate mine :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Alexis! I'm stealing all those. I was born close to Christmas, so my birthday was forgotten more often than it was remembered. Then ten years ago, I made some incredible friends who decided to celebrate my birthday all month long. The first year, they waited until January to celebrate, when I flew to L.A. to see a lecture with Howard Shore, and an early viewing of The Two Towers. Two of my new friends, one in Florida, and the one I was visiting in L.A., bought me Sting for my birthday. Ever since, I've been trying to show my appreciation by honoring the love they've shown me, passing it along. It's been a tough year, but this was a much-needed reminder to celebrate. Thank you. Have a fantastic day! What a great start!
ReplyDeleteWhat a WONDERFUL birthday present - both thoughtful and just downright COOL! Happy birthday, Alexis! And may every day of the coming year be filled with all the joy and happiness that you can stand. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJUDY - Ugh, a birthday near Christmas. I feel your pain. My aunt's is Christmas Eve and I always thought it was wrong that she got one present for both her birthday and Christmas. No fair! Good for your friends for celebrating all month! That's the way to go! You have a great day too, and thanks for joining my party :-)
ReplyDeleteMAEVE - I know, isn't it cool? I told my college class what I received and they looked at me as if I was the weirdest Professor they'd ever had. Probably am :-) Thank you so much for the wonderful wishes!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Alexis. I'm a little jealous of your gift. Do classes go along with it? Enjoy your new year!
ReplyDeleteYou got your claymore!! :D Happy Birthday, Alexis - it was fun to spend time with you at ECWC. Hope you're enjoying your special day!
ReplyDeletehappy b-day! I'm a firm beleiver in celebrating and even extending the celebration over several days to do it properly ;) while you may be getting older, as they say, it sure beats the alternative. so have lots of fun & enjoy yourself completely :)
ReplyDeleteLINDA - I'm pretty sure there are no Claymore Swordsmanship classes offered here on the island. Just guessing. Which means my wielding it will mean catastrophe for anyone around. Hmm, maybe I should stop playing with it. We do have ceiling fans :-) Thank you for coming to the party!
ReplyDeleteANNE - I did! Can you believe it? When I saw the box he tried to tell me it was an ironing board, but I wasn't born yesterday you know. Actually I was born today ;-) It was great hanging out with you at ECWC. Maybe we can get together when I come to AZ in May :-)
ReplyDeleteGA MISTRESS - I'm with you on that one. The more days the better! I pledge to have as much fun as possible :-) Thanks for coming to the party!
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy birthday! Wow what a gift. I really like your tips, especially on gratitude. It can make a world of different! :)
ReplyDeleteCAROL - Yeah, I got lucky when I found that man! He knows my heart well. Glad you liked my tips. Can't wait to see what you have to say next week. I'll be in touch real soon ;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Alexis!
ReplyDeleteYou're attitude about your birthday is awesome! I really like all of your birthday tips, best birthday blog I think I've read so far!
You're so right about it being the start of a new year for you and those born on the same day. How cool to it for each of us to have our own New Year celebration!
Absolutely LOVE your 5 foot Claymore Sword. I got my sword for my birthday this past year too! It's such a great birthday gift.
MARILYN - Thank you for the compliment, Marilyn :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the blog post. You have a sword too? How awesome! I guess great minds think alike :-) Thanks for joining the party.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome is that! What a hubby you've got!! Happy B-day.
ReplyDeleteJULIE - I know, he is great. I still can't believe it. I keep picking it up :-} Thank you for the joining the party!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY to you. WOW, I love your birthday gift. My hubby was sitting across the room when I was reading your post. We saw the claymores hanging on the wall of a museum in Scotland and remember how long they are. What I'd like to know is how did he get it to you? I didn't know they would actually sell those things. AH, the first piece in the Alexis Museum. NICE!
ReplyDeleteI do have a happy birthday memory. I was the president of country singing artist Kevin Sharp's fan club for 13 years. At the very beginning of knowing him, I was working in my friend's ceramic shop (she was also my partner in the newly formed fan club). The back door opened and in walked Kevin with a cake blazing with candles and him singing Happy Birthday to me. I was so stunned, and, of course they had to catch it all on a video. Elaine said the funny thing was, Kevin had sung the national anthem at the ARCO Arena the night before at a basketball game with 18,000 people attending and he wanted to know if he had to sing happy birthday to me all by himself. :)
I love your blog! Birthdays are definitely meant to be celebrated. Unfortunately I remember my birthdays by what cake I had that year. The cake has always been the most important part of my birthday. A whole cake just for me! Heavenly thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI do cherish the memory of a gift given to me by my older sister on my ninth birthday. I woke up to find by my bed a single purple carnation in a vase with a note saying "Happy 9th Birthday" Love, Alexis
That was the first flower anyone had ever given to me. This year my husband gave my daughter flowers for her birthday and said he bought them for her because he wanted to be the first guy to give her flowers. Which brought me back to my 9th birthday and the joy of getting my purple carnation again!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! Nice sword. :)
ReplyDeletePaisley - Oh Wow, Paisley! What an amazing Birthday memory. That is so funny that he was nervous about singing to you without any help :-)
ReplyDeleteMy husband saw me admiring the sword in a knife shop in Bellevue, WA. He surprised me with it the last day we were there. Then we had to check it as luggage to get it home to the island. Good thing we only go through customs on the way off the island :-) Thank you for joining my party :-)
PAIGE - I totally forgot I gave you that carnation! I so loved carnations back then. It was the best thing I could think of to give you :-) Oh yes, those Birthday cakes were special too. Just like you make for your kids. I like your husband's way of thinking. I wonder if he wishes he was the only one to give my niece flowers, ever ;-) Thanks for the Birthday call too :-)
ReplyDeleteKIM - Thanks. I think it's pretty spectacular my self ;-)
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