From Reverend Mother: (Happy Birthday RM)


1. "It's my party and I'll [blank] if I want to..."
Favorite way to celebrate your birthday (dinner with family? party with friends? a day in solitude?)

I like to celebrate this holiday as I like to celebrate every holiday: Alone. Although as 50 looms in the closer and closer future I am considering a big blowout big band dance for that milestone. (It depends in part on what I do for husband's 50th on February 7, 2007)

2. "You say it's your birthday... it's my birthday too, yeah..."
Do you share your birthday with someone famous?

Judy Garland, Maurice Sendak, J. Bennett Johnston, F. Lee Bailey, Elizabeth Hurley and Tara Lipinski

3. "Lordy Lordy look who's forty..."
Milestone birthdays:
a) just like any other birthday--they're just numbers, people.
b) a good opportunity to look back/take stock
c) enjoy the black balloons--I'll be hiding under a pile of coats until the day is over
d) some combination of the above, or something else entirely.

I had a party in a bar for my 21st, a small party at home for my 30th, was given a small dinner party for my 40th, and see above for possible 50th plans. I guess that for the "milestone" birthdays, I give in and let people party with and for me. Most of my taking stock happens in the few years before the milestone. (Well, maybe not for the 21st, but hey, I was in college)

4. "Happy birthday, dear... Customer..."
Have you ever been sung to in a restaurant? Fun or cringe-worthy?

Oh. My. God. I hate this. I have told my husband and kids that if they do this to me, I will excuse myself from the table. I know that is not being a good sport, but they have been warned.

5. "Take my birthday--please"
Tell me one advantage and one disadvantage about your particular birthday (e.g. birthday in the summer--never had to go to school; birthday near Christmas--the dreaded joint presents) This could also simply be something you like/dislike about your birthday (e.g. I like sharing a birthday with my best friend, etc.).

I like that my birthday is almost exactly 6 months after Christmas.
I like that my birthday is during beach season.
I don't like that June is a killer month for birthdays, anniversaries, Father's day etc. It means that my husband always forgets one of the holidays. Unfortunately, it is usually his mother's birthday that he forgets and then he has to be guilted about "remembering Sherry's but not mine" for at least 3 months.
When I was a kid, I felt special that my birthday was in the same month as my mother's. Now that she and I have a minimal relationship, it is bittersweet.