Thursday 26 January 2012

It's My Birthday Too, Yeah!

Well, hello there, poppets! It is my birthday today, so I am in a mood to discuss birthdays which, at least in the Anglo-Saxon world, appear to be more important to girls than to guys. I will not state categorically that birthdays are more important to girls than to guys because I try to save my gross generalizations for more important stuff.

Anyway, when you are Single, but sometimes also when you are married, because of the guys-not-always-getting-the-importance-of birthdays factor, making the most of your birthday is up to you. Not telling anybody it is your birthday and then getting more and more depressed all day about an uncaring world before crying yourself asleep at night is just plain wrong.

Forget that. If you are the sort of woman--like me--who cares about birthdays and thinks of her birthday--as I think of my birthday--as a temporal extension of her very SELF, then you have to do a lot of prep.

First of all, you have to let everybody know that your birthday is coming up. Facebook has made this easier than ever, for Facebook can tell all your Facebook friends for you. But you can also let your friends know by inviting them to a par-tay. Unless you are up to 90% certain your best pals are throwing you a surprise party, you have to do this yourself. Frankly, I don't think it matters who organizes it, just as long as it is organized.

Second of all, you must buy yourself a little present. Or several little presents. Or a big present. I, for example, bought myself a manicure. For one shining hour this morning, I sat across from a very nice manicurist, an excellent conversationalist, and watched the transformation of my fingernails. And yesterday I popped into a charity shop and, seeing the perfect little green dress for £6.50, bought it to wear today.

Third of all, you must do a birthday thing on your actual birthday. My birthday dinner has been moved to Friday night because of the difficulties of having a party on Thursday night when 90% of our parties end at 2 AM. But, you know, Friday is not my birthday. If you are a birthday purist, as am I, it is okay to have delayed birthday celebration, but only if you do something nice on your birthday. So I had lunch out with B.A. and coffee out with a friend who can't make it tomorrow.

And now another friend has dropped by as a surprise and I must go...!

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday. Prayers for you today. Great advice. Especially about throwing your own party. Don't wait for someone else. Create your own birthday fun. Love it.

Andrea said...

Happy Birthday!!

Johannes Faber said...

Happy birthday and thanks for all your work!

My mother's birthday is Ash Wednesday.

Any advice?

Catholic Pen said...

Happy Birthday! Even though you won't state it I will: boys categorically do not get birthdays! I never got this until my current boyfriend--he totally doesn't not get enthusiastic about his!

Domestic Diva said...

Happy Birthday, Seraphic! May this year be rich with blessings for you!

Emma - the seamstress one said...

Happy Birthday Auntie Seraphic!!

Jam said...

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday Auntie Seraphic
Happy birthday to you!

Look at that, I'm distributing music on the internet and not paying royalties! ;)

Young Canadian RC Male said...

Happy birthday Auntie Seraphic. Another year of fun and traddiedom for you! Keep up the writing.

Maggie said...

Many happy returns! I hope you have had a wonderful day.

The Sojourner said...

Happy birthday!

My family has a tradition that I jokingly refer to as the "USCCB method" for celebrating birthdays--we move the feast to the nearest Sunday. (Note: I love my bishop, but probably do not have enough respect for the USCCB.)

On my last birthday, I babysat my former youth group director's 3 children while she went in for bloodwork prior to giving birth to her fourth child. (He was born by C-section the next day.) The birthday before THAT, I turned in a 15-page paper in my night class and then drank a perfunctory glass of wine that my roommate provided and then went straight to bed. (I was just 21, she was 21 and six months.) I am obviously not much of a birthday purist.

Charming Disarray said...

Happy Birthday!

Mary said...

Happy birthday dear Seraphic! I hope you have the beautiful day you so deserve!!

Eowyn said...

You should add "birthdays" to your list of healthy things to do, since studies have shown that the more birthdays you have, the longer you live.

Happy birthday!!

Ania said...

Happy Birthday Auntie! God bless you!
Sto lat niech żyje nam!

Mustard Seed said...

Huzzah! Happy birthday, Seraphic!! *<:)

leonine said...

Happy, happy birthday!

sciencegirl said...

Happy Birthday! I am also a birthday purist, but of course I enjoy celebrating when it is convenient for my friends. One of my friends and I even used to celebrate the "Octave of Birthday," as hers was one week after mine.

My birthday OFTEN falls in Holy Week, but I actually love it when it does, because then I get all the wonderful Holy Week meditations. My favorite things to do on my birthday are to take a pleasant walk by myself in the middle of the day, reflecting on years past. I like parties in the evening, and am just as happy to move them to the weekend if need be. In Holy Week, a friend usually just makes an extra cake for the big Easter Sunday brunch.

Med School Girl said...

Happy Birthday from rural Canada!
Here's to celebrating you today!!!
It's also my godmother's birthday today, and she is a very special person in my life!

Sarah said...

Happy birthday!

Jen D said...

Happy birthday!! :)

Felix said...

A very, very happy birthday weekend!

KimP said...

Happy Birthday! When you read this, it will be your actual birthday!

Betsy said...

Happy birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day and that your birthday dinner is lots of fun! Thank you for everything you do, and may God bless you always. :-) <3

Kate P said...

A very happy birthday, and a wonderful year, too, Seraphic! I love the manicure idea, and way to score a fabulous dress for less.

From someone who is not a birthday purist and loves to extend the celebration as long as possible. :)

Seraphic said...

Thanks all!

Jasmina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jasmina said...

Happy happy birthday dear Seraphic!! Have a lot of fun on your day and God bless :))

ceciliamschwartz said...

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Auntie! (Sorry they are belated.)

Lena said...

Happy Birthday Greetings! I'm inspired and encouraged by your birthday planning. I'm sure your manicure and new dress look fetching.

I believe in celebrating one's birthday on the actual birthday and also on the following day, and the day after that and the day after that . . .

kozz said...

Birthday greetings Aunty Seraphic!!

Sinéad. said...

I hope you had a happy birthday!

Beth said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Seraphic! :) Thanks for writing this blog and sharing your wisdom with us. I adore it :)