29 October 2005

Train of birthday thoughts

My birthday's coming up, so I thought about other birthdays I've had. Quite a few, my birth certificate tells me, but I can only remember a few of them, so I should be ok...


The first one I remember is my 12th or 13th birthday (see? I can't even remember which one..). My sister was in the States as an exchange student, and called home to congratulate me. I didn't come to the phone because "I didn't know what to talk to her about"! The first and last time in my life I kept my silence...

Then I remember my 16th, I spent most of it outdoors with a couple of friends, fighting our way through the sleet (on the ground and falling from the air...), tossing the odd snowball at passers-by, and not doing anything worth mentioning, really. Why we were out there I'm not sure, but even if I weren't enjoying it particularly at the time, it's one of the few I remember...

My 18th birthday my friends came round and had cake and all, while I was hacking away one the last many pages of a dissertation that was due the next day... Oh, and they gave me a teddy bear that I've still got - that is, I donated it to the kids (super kind).

No. 23 (will this never end, you say, is she now 75? But not quite...) I had a whole lot of people over, I think everyone were having a grand time. But me. I was rushing around making sure everybody was happy, had plenty to eat and drink and generally cleaning up. Hmmrphf.

When I turned 24 my flatmate, Børge, arranged the whole party in our flat - he cooked, served, cleaned, etc. and made me look good to my friends (amongst them, Rarity). I loved him for it - still do!

At 30, my hubby managed to arrange for a surprise party - about 20 family and friends were there when I got home from town! Excellent work... And when our then 11 month old Jakob spilled all his food on my (only!) dress, I was told to open one of the parcels that contained - you guessed it! - a new dress... Was Jakob in on it all along?

Now, I'll stop right there. Never trust a woman who tells you her age, she'll tell you anything! Oh, and I'll be 37 next...

Armaedes had a list of horrible things happening to him on his every birthday! Hopefully others have had more pleasant celebrations most years...

4 comments:

Claire said...

Actually I find it reassuring that other folks have more low key birthdays than not. I saw Armaedes list... that's unfortunately overboard in the opposite direction.

Here's hoping your upcoming birthday is stress-free and fun!

Anonymous said...

Agreed! Low-key birthdays are the best as long as they're spent with a few people you dearly love. Enjoy it!

Unknown said...

You people...

Don't encourage her to keep it so low-key that nothing happens!

But sweetipie... How it is possible for you to become 37 next, when I am four years older than you and will become 32 next?

Scholiast said...

I am, of course, aged by 5 children, which means 28 + 5 and the other 4 for, eh, having quads?

Admittedly, maths was never my strongest point.. And B - you were always the good-looking one :)

Meanwhile, I'm having a low-key birthday party with 12 girlfriends coming over Saturday and my hubby putting the kids to bed and providing the nosh before escaping. How's that for celebration?