make fun of birthdays

if there’s one thing my parents taught me (okay, there’re a zillion, but still), it’s to make special occasions. not just make big occasions special (that too) but create special occasions from moments that might otherwise only get a brief nod. since my earliest memories, my folks showed my brother and sister and i that you have to be intentional about creating cherished memories, or life will just zip by in a blur of routine. so we made a habit of celebrating triumphs big and small, usually with a favorite meal, and always with the bright red “you are special today” plate.

the ever-present plate was set before the honoree of the moment, and somehow had the power to truly make you feel special. (or maybe it was the surrounding family members who were just as thrilled as you were about you winning the game / getting the award / earning the grade / making the squad /nailing the performance.)

these assorted victories were recognized without fail, but birthdays were in a class of their own. birthdays were anticipated for weeks, then the party began the moment you woke on the observed day. i mean it. the first thing the birthday boy or girl would hear was a splendidly off-key serenade of “happy birthday” while family members paraded into the bedroom with colorfully wrapped presents and breakfast on a laptray. our albums contain a large collection of photos documenting the barely conscious birthday-ees in all their bleary-eyed glory holding a breakfast feast on their lap with a goofy smile.

today is lee’s birthday, and this is the third year that i get to bestow the birthday breakfast-in-bed tradition on my husband. he was actually initiated into this family custom the year before we were married (although it takes a bit more effort to execute the early morning coup when you have to break into someone else’s house), so he kinda knew what was in store for him. i’ve enjoyed having him step in and carry on the tradition where my family left off. i won’t post any sleepy bed-head photos of either of us, but we are building our own collection already. i hope to extend my parents’ philosophy into our marriage and future family as we invent our own traditions, because life should be special, whether the events are extraordinary or trivial.