Thursday, July 28, 2011

Yet Another Birthday

Birthdays are usually a kind of non-event for me these days.  I don't usually like to give much more than a cursory nod of acknowledgement to the day on which I become a Whole Year Older.  Granted, I've spend a whole year becoming this Whole Year Older, but it's just hearing that number that gets to me.  As the mother of a 5 year old, sometimes I think my birthday should actually be harder on my parents.  I mean, sheesh, they're the parents of a (gasp!) 43 year old.  How must that make them feel?  Older?  Sad?  Wondering how their baby got so old so quickly?  I think I mentioned before how I struggled with Sammi turning 5.  It's such a BIG number in my mind.  Okay, well, struggled isn't exactly the word I should use there, more like had to acknowledge that my baby is not a baby anymore.  I'm thrilled that she's 5!  I'm not, however, thrilled that I'm 43. 

But this year my birthday was actually a really fun day!  It fell on a Sunday, making it the perfect day to actually do stuff.  The morning started out with a family trip to IHOP, Sammi's favorite "estauwant" (oh, how she struggles with those "r" words...).  Gramma (did I get that spelling right, Mom?) and Grampa came over in the afternoon to play with Samantha while Steve and I went to see Harry Potter in 3D.  I have never seen a 3D movie, and thought I might find the glasses annoying and the images overwhelming, kind of what it's like when you put on someone's prescription lenses and try to walk around (channelling my inner 5-year old here), but I was pleasantly surprised!  Even the non-action sequences were so much more well-rounded, full of a depth I couldn't have imagined possible.  Everything on the screen suddenly became so much more interesting.  And the dementors, well, those bad boys were just made for 3D.  Let me say, however, that any movie, no matter what it is, is only as good as the jerks you've got sitting directly behind you in the theater.  And boy, did we hit the jackpot.  A family of 5, each with the noisiest, most rattle-y, nerve-shredding packaging for their popcorn/raisinettes/jujubes/whatever, each with the inability to chew with their mouths closed, each with the insatiable appetites of people who waited a week for this just. so. they. could. eat. through. the. entire. movie., each with the overwhelming desire to slurp the bottom of their drink cup when it's obviously this close to being empty, each waiting until the absolute quietest moments of dialogue to stuff their faces and pass the boxes around...  Well, you get the picture.  Omg...  At one point Steve even lowered his glasses down on his nose, turned around, and gave them the death stare.  Which silenced them for exactly...4 minutes.  4 minutes in which we were able to listen to the movie.  Eventually, about an hour and a quarter into the film, they decided they'd eaten enough, and with one final move to squish the popcorn bag into the tiniest ball possible, fell silent. 

That's when someone's cell phone went off.  Really?

Okay, so other than that, the film was great!  When we returned home, we had delicious cupcakes that my mother had made from scratch that morning and sang Happy Birthday to Me (which Samantha was just fine with, given the smaller group and the lower volume with which everyone sang).  Several times throughout the day, Samantha, unsolicited, said, "Happy birthday, Mommy!  Blow out the candles!"  Hehehe, my little cutie...  Speaking of Samantha and her beautiful birthday wishes, I just love how she signed her card to me (below)!!  Steve helped her hand-over-hand with the "S," but she did the rest of the letters of her name all by herself. 

The day was topped off by a fantastic dinner of my choice, Spaghetti Carbonara, cooked by my amazing husband, accompanied by a glass of wine, followed by some lemon merengue pie (not cooked by him, but still delicious!).  After my high-calorie adventures that day, it was early to bed, passed-out cold in seconds. 

Just as a happy birthday should be.


15 comments:

Meriah said...

oh man. just reading about the family behind you made me writhe and cringe. that's my personal all-time version of a living hell. HELL, I tell you! Plus - get this - the microphone on my hearing aids is in the BACK, so that means that anything behind me is amplified. This is why I sit in the last seat in movie theaters if at all possible. Always.
Happy, happy birthday, Becca - 43 is a delightful sequence of numbers. You have an odd and an even, yin/yang, balance in your life :)

Wren said...

Happy Birthday!!! That dinner looks delish!!!

Pallavi said...

Happy Birthday Becca :)
You are so beautiful and young looking at 43.

That card is so sweet. Loved her hand writing..

Anonymous said...

You're spoiled...and deserving!

Anna said...

I turned 43 yesterday!!!!! The 27th. It wasnt as eventful as yours but oh so good in its own way. (we will celebrate this weekend for real when all the adult children can be together. Since I am 43 I can wait patiently for us to celebrate on another day! ha ha!I can tell you I turned all shades of green that your little one could write her name one her own like that!!!!! What a sweet accomplishment. Right now I trace around Gs hand and write her name for her then let her add a scribble or two.Happy birthday to YOU!

alicia said...

glad you had an amazing day! because you totally deserve it :) not only that day but every day!
well i've been wanting to go and see harry potter, though i didnt wanted to see on 3d (too much money) although i was willing to spend it on 4d to see what was all about so many "d's" lol but hoping this weekend to go.

and that dinner... yummmm you should share the recipe! :D looks yummy!

and wtg sammi! great job with the writting

my family said...

glad your day was so good...minus the lovely fam behind you. I cant stand that! S write qutie well:)

Rochelle said...

What a delightful day (minus the movie people folks). Love to see how great Sammi's letters look. She is amazing!

Jen Currier said...

Happy Birthday to you! Overall sounds like a great way to mark a new year!

Renee said...

I am glad you had a great birthday. That dinner looks so yummy!

Melissa said...

Glad to hear you had a great day...except for the noisy people behind you. Dinner looks wonderful though!

teal915 said...

Sounds like a great day. Happy Birthday!

Heather said...

Happy belated birthday my cyber friend. I have seen pictures of you and you look fantastic!!

Glad you had a wonderful day with your precious family.


47 for me in September ... how the heck did that happen???

Rob Monroe said...

Absolutely perfect way to spend a birthday! :)

krlr said...

Mmmm. A/Now I'm hungry, thanks, and B/I want to go to the movies (where I promise to eat my giant tub of popcorn quietly), and
C/HAPPPY BIRTHDAY!****