Yesterday was my birthday. Now, I have to admit I’ve always been a little bit “birthday shy” (See My Birthday Last Year), I hate being the center of attention and think my parents should be celebrated on this day, not me! I didn’t do anything after all!
That being said, this year I did not celebrate my birthday. It was merely another day of the week. I acknowledged that it was my birthday, thought about my family and moved on. I was sad and relieved at the same time. I have never celebrated a birthday completely alone. My parents and twin brother have always been there, and I usually have a dinner or do something with friends.
This year, I found myself in a city where I know only a few people and had work. No birthday cakes, no birthday dinner, no celebration. My birthday dinner was our nightly “family meal” at the restaurant which was Pozole with a side salad and creamy tomato rice. My dessert was a leftover oatmeal raisin-walnut cookie (a nightly guilty pleasure when the pastry chef has them to give away) and my favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream. I wrapped my cookie in paper towel and ate it on my drive home. My “birthday cake” for this year.
As sad as this all may seem, I am okay with it. I love my job and what I chose to dedicate my life to. I am prepared to spend my birthday dinners over a stainless steel counters, sneaking bites between tasks. My Christmas’s and Thanksgivings serving others and eating scraps.
Cheers to another year.
Nora
[...] love fresh artisan bread. It is my weakness (well…along with ice cream and oatmeal raisin cookies.) When I have a loaf in my possession it takes everything in my power not to slice a ultra-thick [...]
Checked in with Andrew, he is battling with Truffle the cat and went to Zebb’s. Miss you, we’ll celebrate belatedly. Sometimes it’s fun to prolong the celebration!!
Hey Nora, happy birthday! This blog is awesome, and I read it all the time. You seem to have had a pretty good year, so I don’t really see anything sad about that. Cheers to another year. Have a good day!
Rohit