oh happy day

Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family.  Thanks to my sweet mom.   Tomorrow – December 18th is my day.  Growing up with a December birthday meant school dismissed for holiday right before my day, so I never once got to take cupcakes to school and share them with my classmates.   I always got the group sing-song of the birthday tune which I  shared with the rest of the folks who would celebrate their day somewhere between Dec 15 and Jan 5. ” Happy Birthday to You.  Happy Birthday to you.  Happy Birthday dear Marc, Shane, Heather, and JoBeth.  Happy Birthday to you”   Not to mention, all of us were out shone by another BIG birthday occurring this time of year. Thankfully, my mom saw to it that she always gave my special day panache.   Even if my entire class didn’t get to see me blow out the candles, she created birthday events that were something the other kiddos wouldn’t want to miss….even during holiday break.

I had the best birthday parties.  And this was before birthday parties were the productions they are today.   When I turned 5,  she sent out invitations shaped like teapots and requested that all the attendees dress like their very chic, fashionable mothers.   I’m pretty sure she got the idea because I had a skirt of hers that I insisted on wearing all. the. time.   It was black with a green ivy print.   I would pull the skirt up under my arms and fashion it into a strapless dress.  I would cinch it with a gold belt.  I would remove  the proper barrette from my hair and let my waist long locks wildly cascade down. I considered this my “Jane” look …as in Tarzan and Jane. My dog Misty was Cheetah.  ( I was a pretty intense 5 year old)  When birthday party day arrived. I wore the skirt – but she made me wear the matching top and put my hair in a bun.  I had to be a young lady for the tea party.  Jane was not invited.   We held a fashion show.  Each girl dressed in her mother’s ‘best” sashayed down the catwalk (our long narrow coffee table).  My mom took pictures of each girl.  After the party she had them framed and gave them as party favors.  I grew up spending the night with a friend who kept that picture on her bookshelf until we left for college.

In 3rd grade,  we hosted a Valley Girl party.   It was totally tubular!  I mean, like , I’m so sure if you weren’t there you were so totally not rad.  I wore a red sweatshirt with the neck line cut out of it  - a la Jennifer Beale.   We played a game where we had to stand straight up, drop spoons from chest level into a large pickle jar painted with red lips on it. The game was called….oh yeah ….wait for it…..”Gag me with a spoon”  Mom was clever.

My thirteenth birthday was captured on film in a Polaroid scavenger hunt party.  One of our assignments was to get a picture of our favorite junior high football player with his jersey.  While my mom and her friends were shuttling us around town for our winning shots. There was another mom who suddenly had 15 girls clamoring on her house one quiet Saturday afternoon to get pictures of her son.   We apparently all had the same favorite player.  (Hi Jim!)

As I’ve grown up,  I’ve carried on the birthday party tradition. Some years it’s over the top. This year,  I’m keeping it simple.   My dearest friend from childhood is flying in from Dallas for the day. She’ll meet another dear friend of mine here in Little Rock.  The three of us will lunch.  There’s some Vueve Cliquot chilling in the refrigerator that the Angler brought home tonight.  I have no idea what is up his sleeve.   We’ll have to wait and see.

As for mom, she’s already mailed me the  birthday card I can’t read without boo-hooing.  And I’m expecting an early morning phone call.   She’ll start by singing “Happy Birthday to You” off key – but that’s ok.    Then she’ll tell me she remembers it well the day I was born.  She was up at midnight making cookies for my brother’s 1st grade Christmas party.  (Does this start to explain some things about me?)  I was born a mere 4 hours later  at 4:35 a.m.   I’ll joke that it was the only time I’ve ever been a morning person.  Then she’ll sing “you are my sunshine” – off key.  She’ll tell me she wishes she could hug my neck.    I’ll tell her I’ll be home soon to hug hers.  She’ll also remind me of the cute yellow coat she bought me as a gift.

After I hang up the phone with my mother,  I’ll put on my yellow coat and get ready to face a brand new year.  I’ll head to the airport to pick up my friend. I’ll splurge at lunch and get dessert.  And if they so happen to put a candle on my raspberry pie – I’ll make a wish.  I’ll wish that all of us have a year filled with joy and panache.

Cheers, Y’all!