Something about this has struck a strange chord in me lately and as I read this book to my kids recently, it described exactly how I want to feel about my birthday this year.
Allow me to quote:"If we didn't have birthdays, you wouldn't be you.
If you'd never been born, well then what would you do?
If you'd never been born, well then what would you be?
You might be a fish! Or a toad in a tree!
You might be a doorknob! Or three baked potatoes!
You might be a bag full of hard green tomatoes.
Or worse than all that . . . Why, you might be a WASN'T!
A Wasn't has no fun at all. No, he doesn't.
A Wasn't just isn't. He just isn't present.
But you . . . You ARE YOU! And now, isn't that pleasant!"
"Today you are you! That is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
Shout loud, "I am lucky to be what I am!
Thank goodness I'm not just a clam or a ham
Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!
I am what I am! That's a great thing to be!
If I say so myself, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!"
I will sadly admit that I haven't always felt this way on my birthdays. But, I figure since I'm very quickly riding the slippery slope down to 40, I may as well embrace what I am today and be happy about it. I am even very slowly learning to accept all of the other "me's" I have been throughout my life (remember my trauma last year over being embarrassed by some of my teenage self?). I think I'm over it. Finally.
Yes, 20 years later, I think I might be able to show you what I looked like, and listened to, and what a goofy crazy hormonal mess of a 15 year old I was, without blushing. Maybe.
And perhaps it is with this goal of embracing my teenage self right alongside my current self that I have decided to throw myself a party (yes indeed! And you are all invited to come - ladies, that is. Friday 7 pm at my house)! I have dubbed it a 1990 flashback party (basically because the music I still enjoy the most comes from the 80's and 90's). As I thought about it, there were a lot of great things about being 15 (I had soo much ENERGY, for one!!). And while I don't necessarily endorse always acting at the maturity level of a 15 yr old (heaven help us!) - I think for this one night at least I am going to try to throw away all these strange (self-imposed) expectations of how an upstanding, grown up, responsible mother of 4 children (who is 35!) should act and behave. And . . . I'm going to have a party to celebrate. Care to join me?!?
More Dr Seuss:
"Now, by Horseback and Bird-back and Hiffer-back, too,
Come Your Friends! All your friends! From all over Katroo!
And the Birthday Pal-alace heats up with hot friends
And your party goes on!
On and on
Till it ends."
Exactly.
8 comments:
Happy Birthday! I hope to be able to stop by Friday. Many happy returns of the day (as Christopher Robin would say).
You are so cute! Happy Birthday! I would totally come, if I didn't live on the other side of the country! I just had the big 35 birthday too. It is a strange feeling. The young age still, but old is breathing down my neck!
Happy birthday! Can't wait for the party!
I really think you should change the party to Saturday. I can totally come on Saturday. That's okay, judging from your guest list I know you are going to have so much fun even if I'm not there.:-) You deserve to party like it's 1990. Everyone should bring their yearbook from that year so you can all see how cute you all were.
So sorry I can't change the day - I'm sending Zac and the kids to spend the night at my mom's house as an extra party bonus, and trying to get them back for church on Sun was seeming more stressful. So a Friday it is. :(
Hopefully lots of people can still come, though!!
Happy Birthday my friend! I will be at your party "in spirit" since the drive would be a bit much to add into the week! Enjoy being "15" again!
Hope you had a fabulous birthday! I know what you mean about getting older, I can't believe every year as the number just keeps going up. Still, I'm so glad I'm not a teenager...that was really hard!
Dr. Seuss's words held so much meaning. I hope that your birthday was what it should be: a celebration of the wonderful life you have led!
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