One of Those Birthdays That Ends in Zero
Yep… I just had one
I recently celebrated a birthday that ends in zero. Yes, one of those dreaded “zero” birthdays. The ones that everyone makes such a big deal over. But I’m like…. Every single day a new year begins, so this is nothing new. It’s just like New Year’s Eve. I’m not really a big celebrant of that event. One reason is because back in the day I had way too many close calls out on the streets with people who were over-celebrating. Another reason is because, as I said above, a new year begins every single day. Every day is New Year’s Eve!
My body maybe… sometimes…once in a while… experiences the results of beginning a year that has a zero in it, but my mind and soul are not playing along. No matter how many years my body has, or will, live, I will perpetually be 28. I’ve felt that way since…I was 28! I used to wonder why 28 is the magic number. Then it dawned on me – I was 28 when my first child was born. When the world as I knew it took a dramatic turn. A good turn, but nevertheless a dramatic one. I was now responsible for another human, and that certainly does create change in one’s life. There’s no going back now.
However, since my body is at this year-that-ends-in-zero point, my family decided we should have a big celebration. So to start it out, we gathered together at our house (all eleven of us) on the weekend prior to my actual birthday and began our party day with a decadent birthday brunch. And that really was a wonderful gift because – I did not have to prepare it - and I would have been happy with just that.
But we did want to keep this party going, so we left the house aiming straight for a family bowling party. Yes, bowling at this age that ends in zero. Now, I am a bowler from way back when. And while I have absolutely no athletic ability – none – not any - I have bowled some decent games in my day. (And I’m not too bad at mini golf most of the time.) When my kids were little (after I’d left that magical age of 28 behind) in order to find some parenting relief and have a wild night out once a week, four girlfriends and I created a bowling team, complete with official bowling shirts, our own balls, bags, and shoes. And - because I know you are just dying to ask – yes, I do still have my bowling ball and bag. I tell my kids those are family heirlooms, and I mean it. I remind them not to fight about who has the honor of owning The Bowling Ball and Bag after I’m gone. I had the shoes too, until I recently discovered that the rubber toes had dried up and cracked off. (Something I am hoping not to do myself as these years-ending-in-zero pile up.) Back then, when our team reunited and started bowling again after having had the summer off, we would get what we called Bowlers’ Butt. Yep. Getting those muscles back into shape was a thing. But what I now get instead is The Thigh Thingy. That right front thigh lets me know for days afterwards that I’ve been back at the bowling alley.
Having all made it through bowling with nothing worse than A Thigh Thingy, we headed back to the house for cake and gifts. I get the same cakes for my birthday every year (whether they end in zero or not) from the same bake shop (Let Them Eat Cake) in the Valley Junction area of West Des Moines: a Chocolate/Raspberry and a Lemon. They are light, fluffy, have intense flavor, and the frosting is like a puffy cloud. (Hmmm…I may have to pause this writing and go get one right now.) And all the gifts I received were just so thoughtful. Perfect. But one of the best was a vase of flowers that one of my grandsons made by himself using a plastic water bottle, pipe cleaners, and cupcake wrappers. I love that gift, but even more so, I loved the look of anticipation and joy he had on his face as I opened and exclaimed over his special present. That was one of my favorite gifts of all.
It was a fabulous birthday party with some wonderful family time. But as happens, the day ended, and everyone went back home to continue on. Then a few days later my actual birthday was upon me, and a much quieter celebration was in order. My husband took me out for breakfast at one of my favorite spots – Home Grown, which is just around the corner from us, where I had a most delightful meal of a brown sugar/cinnamon homemade pop tart, the world’s best (no – really it is) coffee cake with warm caramel sauce to drizzle over the top, and some cooked-to-perfection bacon. Hey…it’s my birthday! I should get what I want, right? (He got a much more reasonable and healthier breakfast consisting of things like eggs.) On the way home, and because it was a lovely early spring day, we stopped by our neighborhood coffee shop for my free birthday drink and little sit-down on their patio.
As the day was winding down, I was lucky enough to get to do two of my favorite things. One: I bought a big pot of pansies for my front porch – they are the first flower of spring offered at the garden shops here and one of my favorite flowers. And two: I got to spend the late afternoon at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. And if you know me, you know this is where I invariably want to be. My daughter and I always put items in a children’s consignment sale held in a building out there every spring and fall, and the time to deliver those items happened to fall on my birthday. Yay! A gift for me! A trip to the Fairgrounds…and returning home to eat more cake! The perfect way to end my day.
So, yes, I am beginning one of those years that ends in zero. But it’s all just another day and year to me. (Because, as we know, I’m really just 28.) And like I said before, I’m also ending and beginning another year today. And will do so again tomorrow. But that one particular date that keeps coming up over and over again each year on my calendar brings a special gift with it: Time with my family creating memories. One of my favorite sayings is: We were just having fun – we didn’t know we were making memories. We do that every time we are together, and celebrating a year that ends in zero is just another chance to make more of those memories. And that is a gift I am truly grateful for.
I also write a Substack column entitled Grandma’s Recipe Box, a place where we can all share treasured family recipes and the stories behind them. I believe these recipes help make us who we are and bring back memories like nothing else can. I publish my family recipes but also invite readers to join in and share theirs. Who knows? Your recipe gem may become a treasure for another family. To join in and submit a recipe, just email me at: ourgrandmasrecipebox@gmail.com
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What a great unofficial birthday! I need a nap just from
reading it. That’s just what we 28 year-olds do. Happy EVERYday, Connie!
Happy birthday Connie! Sounds like a truly lovely week of celebration. 💕🌸