Tomorrow is my birthday! I turn, um, thirty-seven. But let’s not focus on the age. ‘Cause it’s just a number, right? Those circles under my eyes aren’t really darkening, the lines around my mouth aren’t starting to become, um, more permanent. No, I’m not actually aging. That’s for other people. I’m just partying! Because, in the words of 50 Cent, it’s my birthday!
I’ve always been a birthday whore. Loving every single minute of the attention. Wanting streamers obnoxiously strewn across my office. Craving the cake and the candles and the song. Loving that the celebration merely begins on the day I was born. And then it goes on and on and on. I’ve even been known to throw a party (or five) for myself. There was the big 2-5. The big 3-0. The big 3-5. And there will undoubtedly be the big, well, you know what comes next. Don’t make me say it!
So, it probably won’t surprise you that as much as I love receiving presents, I also love buying myself gifts—before and after the big day. I’ve already given myself that much-needed massage and just-couldn’t-live-without pair of Michael Kors wedge sandals. And I also have big plans for how I’m going to use those Barnes & Noble gift cards that I know are coming my way! (*wink* *wink*)
First, I’m going to get myself a Nook. Yes, I’m biting the bullet and giving in to the undeniably fabulous technology. After recently buying one for my Matron of Honor and holding it in my hands, touching the screen, feeling the lightness, I found that I was the bad kind of jealous. Wishing it was mine. Having fantasies about borrowing it. Indefinitely.
Then, I have a list of books that I plan to download or buy (I will never stop loving the feeling of holding an “actual” book in my hand) for the weekend away to Los Angeles that I’m treating myself to very soon. (Honey, if you’re reading this, I can explain). I'll be downloading Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines, and buying Between Friends by Kristy Kiernan, House Rules by Jodi Picoult, and Wedding Season by Katie Fforde. I’ve heard all of these novels are must-reads and can’t wait to report back and let you all know what I thought.
So thank you in advance, everyone, for all of my fabulous birthday gifts. You shouldn’t have, really. Well, actually you should have. Or, if you didn’t get me anything, that’s okay too. Because you know I’ll buy it for myself!
What's the best birthday gift you've ever received (or bought for yourself)?
Lisa Steinke, along with her best friend Liz Fenton, co-authored the chick lit novel I’ll Have Who She’s Having and co-created the popular Chick Lit blog, Chick Lit is Not Dead.
Well, it's that time of year, isn't it? I'll sing along with Debbikins....Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Lisa, Happy Birthday to you!.....and manyyyyyyyyyy morrrrrrre..............
For me, these days, I hate to be reminded of my birthdays. But, as they say, here where I live (in our senior development of the I.E.), it's better than the alternative!
My kids, and grandkids, won't let me forget, though! I think it's the cake and ice cream, opening up those presents, and blowing out the candles that they love the most....... and the big hugs, we all like! :-) My granddaughter always likes to draw me pictures with the two of us: I love you grandma....I love you too, Emma! This year it was several pages of dialogue from her, and it was an incredibly precious gift to me. I incorporated that card she made into a story I wrote for her, when her class project was to have someone in the family (she chose me) take "flat Stanley" (Emma) around for a week....I took pictures of everything we did.....it was such fun to do, and "Flat Emma" and her card is now preserved in a book I made for her.
I think it's these little things I get from the kids, that mean the most to me. I have everything I need, actually....I don't buy shoes that much, or clothes....or gadgets, etc...just books! Yes, Sometimes I do buy myself something I may want, picking it out myself, rather than telling my kids....This year my kids took me out to lunch, Sushi...Yum! I was in the mall and impulsively bought myself a teeny weeny recorder....I thought I would use it on those nights I can't sleep, when poems, or dialogue, is running wild in my head....Wrong, I get tongue tied! So much for impulsive buying!
Anyway, Getting those gift cards to B&N are always great. My kids know I never have enough books! I think, mentioning books, one of the reasons I probably will not go with the Nook, or any other e-reader, is because I like to give a lot of my books away, or loan them out. Many of my friends are older, (older than me!) and having a computer, let alone an e-reader, is not within their scope of thinking, but they all love to read.
Lisa, if you're anywhere near the I.E. this weekend , I'll make you cake and bring it to you! 
Have a good one!
Kathy
Melissa_W
on
Best B-day present ever came from my parents. After I closed on my condo I asked for tools - I didn't have any and knew that I would need some with the new house. My parents gave me Craftsman everything (drill, wrench set, screw drivers, hammer, stud-finder, etc.) and a can of Raid to kill the wasps I found in the garage! It's not flashy and I can't wear it on my arm, but I know my parents love me
Melissa, that's great! My kids used to give me gift cards to Sears! Mom loves her tools!
One birthday stands out [for me] in my mind. It was my 40th. It was a milestone for me, for whatever reason. I guess it hit me that that age was "middle age", and it was going to be all down hill, from there on out. I wanted to forget it, but I never imagined my husband, my kids, my friends, would forget it too! I still wanted a party! Talk about a bummer of a birthday.... I went for a walk and cried!
After that, I threw myself my own birthday parties!
When my best friend turned 40, I gathered her kids up, and mine, and bought all kinds of stuff....and decorated her car with black balloons and crape paper..(her car was in the parking lot where she worked at the hospital). We all elevator it up to the floor where she worked, with hands full of balloons, presents, and a big cake.... When she saw this, the look on her face was embarrassment...And I'll never forget what she said to me, to the day I die. "With friends like you, who needs enemies!" It was just a silly thing that the kids and I wanted to do. I never thought it was a birthday she didn't want anyone to know about!...It was a joke that backfired.
I don't know the moral to this.... other than to say, a number is just a number...it's what/how you feel about yourself that counts. And if the partying can last a week, go for it! Have fun with your family and friends!
Melissa_W
on
That's too bad your very kind (and sounds like fun) act backfired - a number is just a number
PS: Happy Belated Birthday, Lisa! I forgot that on my last comment 
