I have always loved birthdays whether it is mine or yours. It could
be due to the fact that I was born on February 29 and have one birthday
every 4 years and, trust me, when it was a Leap Year I had a blast.
There was my 10th birthday, in 1976,  when I invited 300 of my closest friends to the Memphis Hilton for a jazz cocktail hour followed by a complete prime rib dinner than dancing while enjoying dessert.

In
2000, when I was 'sweet sixteen' there was lunch at The Cheesecake
Factory and dinner at The Ark. At 17, in 2004, it was brunch at the
Marriott Hotel and Marina and Bette Midler in concert. I've done all day open house, planned a surprise party for
me on another birthday. Name a Leap Year and I'll tell you how I made
that February 29 special.

Once I know your birthday date I almost always remember to send you a card (and remind you of your age!!!) year after year.

Though
Allen doesn't celebrate birthdays since we have known each other I have
taken him out for his special day. For years now it has become a ritual
for me to take Gino out the first week of September to celebrate his
being a year older. Now it looks like John will become part of the
yearly to do. What's wrong with sharing your special day with friends,
good conversation and food?

For many years I have offered people
of choice of how old I was when they asked me my age. For instance I
would say 19.25 or 73!! I have never hid my age because, until
recently, I was usually the youngest in my crowd but even though I am
now the oldest the number doesn't bother me.

I
did hear two fun answers to that old age question--one person said, "It
is an unlisted number," while the other answered, "37, but I amdyslectic !"

I
have already started to answer, "74" when asked my age or it is called
for on forms BUT, please, don't give me that 'Age is only a number" or
"You are only as old as you feel"--I've written a couple of blogs on those lines!!!

I hope you enjoy all your birthdays as I have enjoyed mine!

Comments:

'I do not feel that I am different or that I really think or act differently now ' Now that's not true because you know you have learned and grown since those early years not only how you see yourself but how you see others--also, thankfully, our mindset changes as we grow older.

Well, I say birthday should be fun. Instead of thinking about how old we are becoming, we're supposed to think about how alive we still are, what new things are yet to be realized, and what good things from the past have gotten us to this point in our lives. I don't mind telling my age, but I don't mind telling the age that I really still see myself as most of the time. Sure, there are reminders, definite reminders of my real age, yet in many, many ways I do not feel that I am different or that I really think or act differently now than I have throughout my life. Oh, yeah, there definitely are SOME differences...better ones, I should add... however, I am still Donna, have always been Donna, and hope to be Donna for as long as possible. So, keep those birthdays coming and celebrate them all! Oh, and, yes...I can vouch for you and your birthday wishes to others because you have never, ever forgotten my birthday or failed to convey your best birthday wishes. That, my friend, really is special and appreciated.

comment by donnamarie on June 29, 2009 9:13 AM ()

See my separate comment--don't know why it isn't attached to yours.

reply by greatmartin on June 29, 2009 9:19 AM ()

I LOVE my birthdays and every year my sister teases me because I 'remind' my family every day for two weeks prior to my special day that it is almost my birthday!

good uponya mate--may you have many moremine coming up again had to do an eyesight test to keep my drivers licensei passed

comment by kevinshere on June 28, 2009 6:00 PM ()

Here we can renew our license every 7 years until we are 80 then we have to go in for an eye test--oh the demands they make on old folks!!

reply by greatmartin on June 28, 2009 6:08 PM ()