Yesterday was my birthday. 66. I am grateful for every one of those years, and I look forward to adding more to the total.
All day, I was the happy recipient of well-wishes from friends and family, all wishing me something along the lines of . . .
a wonderful day
a chill day
a special day
a great day
a day filled with good things
But, truth be told . . . it kinda wasn’t.
And, further truth be told . . . my birthday OFTEN isn’t.
There is something . . . weird . . . about my particular birthday. I’m not sure what it is, exactly, but I think of it as a kind of . . . energy vortex or something. Because I tend to have very weird birthdays! Maybe it’s the winter-to-spring transition. Maybe it’s the end of the first quarter. Maybe it’s because I was a week early and wrecked the family’s big Easter dinner. (I was born the day after Easter, but my mom did have to interrupt the big family Easter dinner when her water broke; she was always somewhat mortified by this.). Who knows why . . . but I have had a lot of weird birthdays.
Some of it is actual newsworthy weirdness. President Reagan was shot on my birthday in 1981, for example, when I was working at a newspaper. (Lots of overtime that birthday. . . ) Donald Trump was indicted on my birthday in 2023. (Which wasn’t as weird as it was . . . about time.) Mostly, though, it’s just been regular life . . . acting up with a weird vibe on my birthday. Breaking (beyond repair) the very birthday gift I had just opened (age 16). Needing to “bribe” a AAA tow truck driver to drive us to the Denver airport when my car broke down on the highway (age 21). Preparing for, driving, or otherwise traveling for spring break with the kids (ages 36 – 51). Lots of big storms (featuring notable winter OR spring weather). Major dental work. Big events . . . the Oscars, Easter, The Final Four . . . all falling on my birthday regularly.
Here’s the funniest of my Weird Birthday Stories. . . Tom and I submitted paperwork to buy a house and pre-apply for a mortgage . . . on March 30, 1998. That’s a lot of paperwork to sign! And date. Turns out I had to go back and do it all again . . . because I dated each document with my birth date . . . instead of the actual date. (Habits. What can I say?) (The bank people were not amused.)
All this to say . . . I tend to have very low expectations on my birthday.
Yesterday, though, may take the “cake” for weird birthdays. To start things off, I sliced a chunk out of my finger the night before my birthday, and it was still bleeding when I woke up. (It’s much better and healing now, although typing this post is a challenge.) Then, Tom and I had some mild-ish stomach-y “thing” going on all day. (Also better now.) And . . . we got a call letting us know that Tom’s mom* had passed away the very morning of my birthday.
So.
Not a wonderful birthday.
Not a great or chill or special or filled with good things kind of day.
Just another weird birthday to add to my collection of weird birthdays.
On the other hand . . . I always welcome my birthdays. Weird or not!
I really do.
66. Here we go!
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*(Some of you know that my mother-in-law didn’t like me. At all. So this is – as my brother-in-law said – “twilight zone level” stuff . . . that my birthday and her date of death are now linked. Weird, I tell you.)
Definitely twilight zone level stuff!! Happy Birthday, Kym.
Well. Not sure what to say, because Happy Birthday a little late seems–wrong? I don’t know. However, I do feel the same way about birthdays and I’m really kind of ok with it not being much of a day. A few cards, a nice meal, and a lot of thankfulness (is that a word?) for still being alive.
Ot definitely feels like some sort of karmic event for your MIL to pass away on your birthday. Maybe you need to start celebrating your half birthday instead? I hope you at least had lovely piece of cake to mark the day.
Oh heavens, Kym. What an enormous amount of weird birthday stuff (I might suggest doing what they do with kids who have summer birthdays… celebrate your half birthday… September 30 or October 1… might be a better time?)
All weirdness aside, I am sending you the best birthday wishes as you begin your next trek around the sun. This planet is definitely a better place because YOU are here!!
I hope your finger heals quickly! And I am sorry about Tom’s mom… please share my deepest sympathy with him. XO
Oh my. Weirdness abounds! LOL. But, happy belated and may this next year be filled with joy and love and laughter. I do hope your finger heals quickly (what an annoyance for a crafter!). The whole MIL thing is weird indeed, but sympathies to Tom.
I have no words really except ugh. And so far 66?is pretty great so I’m sending all the vibes that it will be the same for you. xo
So sorry about the weird birthdays…your MIL does seem a little Twilight Zone-ish. And you didn’t even mention the storms that came through on your birthday this year.
My husband and I both have holiday birthdays which adds it’s own brand of weird. As a result, when I send birthday cards my sentiment is to give my wishes for their year ahead rather than just the day. Because in the end…it’s just a day.
Congratulations on 66!
In spite of the weirdness surrounding your birthday, I wish you all the best for the coming year!
Happy Birthday Kym!
Interesting, but why the photos of moss on concrete?
That sure is a lot of weirdness! Wishing you all the best for this new year.
Well, I guess you can say that your birthday is always interesting! Sorry to hear about the finger and the tummy troubles and condolences to Tom. Maybe you can pick another day to have a happy celebration and do it regularly so that you can be sure of a good day? In any case, here’s to another trip around the sun and many more of them!
As someone who watched this unfold via texting with you, I’m so glad to say that you’ve never lost your sense of humor about all of this! And, to add to the weird things that happened on your birthday, you should check out my blog post from yesterday. LOL
I’m sorry about your finger. And your mother-in-law, even if, well, you know better than I do. Here’s to another year of YOU, which is a good thought indeed.
Happy Belated Birthday, and here’s to your next trip around the sun without too much weirdness. Sending my condolences to Tom; I think it’s difficult to lose your mother, no matter what type of person she may have been.
Kym- wow.
YOU are a gift to the universe , and also to all of us who have the joy of knowing you – thru the ‘net, in person … however.
You bring so much good and important energy.
I hope this trip around the sun is a positive one for you.
Happy year of being 66.
Geez. Have you ever considered just choosing a different day to celebrate? I went to college with a girl whose birthday was April 1, but because she hated April Fools Day, she celebrated on April 15 …
Condolences to Tom. My mother-in-law didn’t like me either, so it worked out nicely that when she died, I had just had surgery and couldn’t travel to her funeral. I think even Tim was relieved.