Saturday, November 13, 2010

Birthdays

I absolutely love BIRTHDAYS!  I especially love children's birthdays because children truly know how to enjoy their birthdays. As we get older, we tend to forget to have fun, to truly enjoy what a birthday really means, and we dwell on the fact that we are aging.  That is so sad.

Another reason I enjoy childrens' birthdays is because I love to decorate cakes.  It is a hobby I took up when my children were little. I self taught myself how to make and decorate cakes and there is nothing like seeing the face of a child when they see a cake that is special made just for them. One of the best ones I ever made was for my middle son when he was 3 or 4 yrs old.  He was really wrapped up in "fish" and so for his birthday I made a flat cake and covered it in blue frosting. The frosting was put on so that it had peaks and looked like water on a windy day. On top of this cake I put another cake. It was a 3 dimensional cake made from an egg shaped cake pan. I inserted a piece of aluminum foil covered cardboard shaped like a fish tail into the narrow end of the egg shaped cake then I covered the cake and tail in black and white frosting, put 2 blue frosting eyes (one on each side) on it, inserted 3-4 blue pipe cleaners which were curled over at the ends  in the top and turned it into a whale spouting water.  My son was so excited over his "fishy" birthday cake that his presents were nearly forgotten. It made my efforts so worthwhile!

There are birthdays that I didn't like too.  For instance, when I turned 20, I cried. At the time I felt like it was the worst birthday ever! Here I was...no longer a teenager but was a wife, a mother, and still too young to buy liquor! I guess I really missed being a child still and was feeling a little self pity.  Most of the people I knew at that age were in college having parties and going out all the time.  They didn't seem to have any responsibility and no cares. But later I realized that I would not have traded my life for theirs simply because they were missing out on what I treasured...the unconditional love from a child of my own.

I also do not like my mothers birthday which incidently is today.  I lost my mother 21 years ago and hardly a day goes by that I don't think of her usually with great memories but on her birthday every year it makes me realize how much I really miss her and I tend to get a little depressed. Again I admit to feeling a little self pity. I feel so cheated that she is not still here.  Enough said of that though.

Anyway, as I said before, I really do love birthdays or most birthdays. Generally it is a day of celebrating life and reflecting on all the joys we have had and all the joys still to come.  I look forward to the surprises each birthday brings whether it is one of my grandchildren's, another family member's, a friend's, or just my own. Yes, another birthday, another year, a little older, hopefully a little wiser, but still a day to remember reguardless who's birthday it is or for what year it marks. I wish all people could enjoy most birthdays like I do.

5 comments:

  1. Carol, some birthdays are hard for all us as well, especially when it's the ones we've lost too early in life. I wish my husband could have met my Grandfather, they have so much in common and I truly believe that is why my Grandmother gets so excited to talk to my husband about hunting, fishing, camping or any other thing my Grandfather also enjoyed.

    But I will tell you this, my mother made me a hamburger cake for my 12th birthday. It stood about 8 inches tall and it was the talk of my birthday party. I too didn't even care about the gifts coming through the door, I just wanted to show all my friends my awesomely cool cake! that birthday was one for the books. I was so excited for my cake, I told my mom not to even put candles on it because I didn't want it to get all waxy or have spit blown towards!

    I almost cried cutting into the cake but it was so dellicous covered in 7 different icing color and flavors. It's sad to think I pasted up a barbie just for another piece of cake.

    Take pride in all of those handmade cakes....you never know how much those truly meant!

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  2. Carol,
    I share your enthusiasm for making that extra effort to ensure that my children, grand and now great grandchildren’s birthday is the most special day of their life. The appreciation they display as revealed through their smiles and glee for being recognized by the entire family always makes me as happy as they are. If you’ve never looked into the eyes of a child when everyone is singing happy birthday; you’ve missed an opportunity of seeing pure and unadulterated joy as only a child can do.
    Let me take this opportunity to wish you a “Happy Birthday” the next time around.
    Jesse

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  3. I was just having this conversation with someone! They were being slightly cynical about Christmas and birthday celebrations, and we came to the conclusion that it gets exciting again when there are little ones around. It's like it gives all of our inner children license to come out and play. Before I had my children, holidays and birthdays were just another day, maybe a little bit more interesting than other days but nothing like I remember it being as a kid myself. But now, to see my babies light up brighter than their cake is worth more than words can begin to describe. My heart instantly becomes happy seeing them giggle in utter delight at a celebration just for them. What is more special than that!?

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  4. I like how you separate birthdays that are enjoyable from those that aren't. I would have to say that I agree with you wholeheartedly. I also think you've nailed it right on the head in terms of the reason why adults tend to lose sight of the meaning of birthdays: aging. I guess this is one of those things that will never change. The thought of growing old for some people is a somber one.

    Like you, I personally enjoy the site of kids when celebrating their birthdays. It's almost like I enjoy the moment vicariously through them.

    Great posting!

    -R

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  5. Can you make a pirate cake like on chrisy's blog?

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