Happy Birthday!

No, really... I mean it!

Of course, I’m wishing myself a happy birthday, but I figure that’s OK, too.

My whole life, I’ve been told that having a birthday on Christmas Eve is special, and, do you know what? It is... It really is!

Of course, when I was a kid it wasn’t special; it wasn’t special at all! When I was a kid, it was the hardest thing in the World to wait all year for a celebration and then have two in two days. Everyone else had two special occasions a year; everyone else had a birthday at a remove from Christmas, and didn’t have to wait a whole year for presents. I had to be patient, and that’s not easy for a kid. It wasn’t easy having everyone else excited about Christmas when it was my birthday, either.

Of course, I got older, and as I got older, I got wiser. In my teens and early twenties, I’d go out on my birthday with only my taxi fare home in my pocket, and every time anyone said, ‘Merry Christmas’, I’d say, ‘Now say, “Happy Birthday”.’ Of course, I’d be showered with birthday wishes and birthday drinks, and I’d party for free.

These days, the husband always, always spoils me on my birthday. Christmas is put in a box on the 23rd and it’s all birthday, all day on Christmas Eve. I am treated and gifted, and I’m given my special day, and, what’s more, I am invariably surrounded by my very favourite people, who, after all, are generally home for Christmas. It’s not as if it’s just any other Monday, now is it?

Christmas comes around with what feels like almost alarming regularity. I can’t believe it’s a year since the last one. I never seem to have to wait for those occasion days anymore. A year passes in the blink of an eye. Having my birthday today only adds to the build-up to the big day, tomorrow, and our holiday is a day longer than everyone else’s.

No one is going to do any last minute, pressure-fueled shopping today. No one is going to spend half of this evening wrapping gifts or preparing tomorrow’s lunch, because all the hard work has already been done, and we plan to enjoy ourselves all day today, and then again all day tomorrow.

It is Christmas Eve, it is my birthday, and I feel blessed... More blessed than you could possibly imagine.

So... Happy Birthday to Me!

And to the rest of you... I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!