Another Candle on the Cake

My second birthday—it is so amazing to see this photo and then see photos of Alex’s second birthday. 

It is my birthday today. As with every passing year, I often use my birthday to think about where I have been, where I am and where I want to be. On this somewhat momentous birthday, I decided to reflect on the birthdays of years gone past and put forth wishes and hopes for the birthdays to come.

Birthdays of Yesteryear

I had a wonderful childhood—I was certainly loved as a child, and I knew it. My family never had a ton of money growing up, but I always felt like the richest kid on the block. My parents would save the few extra pennies they had and put it towards birthday parties for their three kids. One of my favorite birthday parties of all times was at a roller skating rink. I loved to skate (except the couples’ skate—I strongly disliked that portion). You can clearly see how happy I am in these photos—I loved my perm, my party and my cupcakes. Life couldn’t get much sweeter. 

Me with my cupcake and candles (that is my dad’s hand to the left). 

My brother checking out the gifts I received. I think I may have gotten a Rainbow Bright doll at this party!

My last single-digit birthday. This was, hands down, my favorite cake of all time. I loved it. I loved the colors, I loved the flowers, I didn’t want to cut into it. My mom made this cake for me herself, and I was so proud of it, and of her. 

You can see my sister to the left (she was jealous of my cake), and my brother to the right (sort of in a halo). 

Fast forward 20 years to a birthday in a New York, spent celebrating and dancing with good friends. This place doesn’t even exist anymore, but I rang in many a birthday at this spot, as I loved the casual dance atmosphere (I outgrew clubbing rather quickly). 

In 2010, we celebrated my birthday with friends and family at an old salon turned bar—the old hair dryers were still there and you could get a manicure with your drink (or, in my case, diet coke). 

18 days after giving birth, I celebrated another birthday. Here I am with my baby, just a few days old. We went out to dinner that night, and I think it was the first time I put on something other than athletic pants and/or pajamas since the birth. He was the best birthday present ever, although I didn’t really know it at the time. 

My birthday last year. Andy made me a strawberry cake and decorated it himself. It was delicious. 

Hopes for Birthdays to Come

In thinking about the birthdays from yesterday that stand out, they all have one thing in common: I was surrounded by people I loved and who loved me. So, I really only have one hope for the birthdays of tomorrow: to be able to spend them surrounded by people I love, and to have a chance to get to see my family and my baby grow. Birthdays used to depress me, but since having a child, I try to focus a little less on the fact that another year has passed, and a little more on the fact that I had a year to see Alex grow, to have another year with Andy, to spend another birthday celebrating with my mom and dad and brother and sister—the people who have been with me from my first birthday (except my amazing little sister).

Yes, I will probably, at some point today, get a little depressed about my age and where I am at professionally and personally; but, I hope that is fleeting. I hope that I can push that aside to take a look at the bigger picture—to see that birthdays really are about the important things: family, love, and laughter (with maybe a cupcake and a roller skate thrown in for fun).