On Sunday, 10/3/10 I turned 56 years old. It was a horrible day as I expected the world to stop and greet me - I expected all the times I said "don't worry about it" to be denied and everyone to call and treat me well.
But I had only 2 of my 4 siblings even remember me and with the Packers playing, no real attention from my husband till after the game was over. But this is all because I didn't make my wishes known.
The odd thing is that 3 women from choir called me and sang a lovely harmonized version of "Happy Birthday", I received an e-card from another alto...and by 10:00 Monday morning had received two more messages from choir members - neither from the alto section, telling me they hoped my day had been good.
I got a total of three cards and two gifts at choir on 9/30, another card from my son and daughter (ok - future daughter in law but why act like she isn't part of the family when she is so very important to us all), and my daughter (see above note) knit me three pair of socks...wonderful, colorful and warm socks. My son made sure I had Israel Houghton's new cd...my older sister borrowed my ladder and hugged me and told me I was important and loved. And my Dad called. OK, he couldn't remember why he called, and when he said "I can't remember..." my husband said "to talk to your daughter?" and Daddy remembered.
By noon on the 4th, my other siblings contacted me to tell me that they really were sorry that I had a birthday on such an inconvenient day for them and wished me well regardless. Perhaps their phraseology wasn't quite that way, but once I heard all they had to do, I really did see that my birthday was not exactly that important in the great scheme of things.
Why am I writing this? Because I am so tired of people telling me how nice I am and generous and giving when they should know that I am petty and selfish and demanding, just like everyone else.
And because I added up the great things about my birthday and they far outnumbered the imagined slights and self-proclaimed martyrdom I can feel better about Sunday.
SO MAGGIE!!! Get over it and move on. There will be other birthdays ... and in retrospect, how much better could they be - because other than gifts, cards, and greetings I also got some "smarts". Happy days to everyone - they are all special.
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