Friday 10 January 2014

Yay! Yay! It's my birthday!


Yay! Yay! It's my birthday!
10 January 2014

Now I could be all adult-ish, and say, it’s just another birthday.  I mean a forty-first is hardly worth celebrating.  Birthdays aren’t that big, I suppose.  Not many people rejoice in commemorating that they’re getting older.

But I would by lying.  I simply LUUURVE birthdays!  They’re quite simply the bomb!

Not very adult-ish, I know.  But the world is filled with adults already.  And I don’t have to buy into the whole playing-the-birthday-thing-down.  Do I?

So exactly why do I like birthdays so much? 

Ironically, it’s not about the gifts at all.  Oh, presents are lovely and all that, but it’s not the thing that revs my engine.  I like pretty things and I appreciate the thoughtfulness and gorgeous things that are given to me.  I adore them!

But the reason I like birthdays so much, is quite simple…

On a birthday, absolutely everyone is kind to you.  And makes you feel special.  Cherished even.

Hey!  Even Mr Video sends me an sms to congratulate me!  Offering a free movie rental to boot!

Perhaps this makes me needy.  Perhaps this makes me honest.

The fact of the matter is this – a day, where I am made to feel like I’m fabulous?  Well, that’s all right in my book.  A day where I am given wonderful wishes, of love and happiness for the year ahead.  A day in which I am sent happy thoughts from all over the world. 

It’s a no-brainer.  What’s not to like?

In our little family of five, we have a birthday tradition.  The person having a birthday, gets to pick their favourite foods, the whole day long.  In essence, they get to choose the family’s menu for the day.  Part of the fun in this, is the days and days of pondering about choices.  Mainly around the dining room table.  Naturally all family members contribute and make suggestions.  Usually hoping that the chosen meal is one of their favourites too.  And I so enjoy these conversations.  The amount of focus it gets, far surpasses the actual meal.  Or perhaps it enhances it.  But basically, in the Cloete home a birthday is not a birthday, without at least a week long of lengthy discussions about exactly what the special delectable treats of the day will be.  And as such, I’ve delighted in making my choices too.  Loving the encouragement from the kids.  Also observing how well they know me, in guessing what some of my choices will be.

Birthdays are also a time for reflection, on the year that’s just passed.  To look back at what has happened in your life, in the past twelve months.  To ponder on the good, the great, the amazing, the fantastic.

This past year, has been a good one for me.  But then again, I feel this way every year.

My family all have their health.  My closest family as well as my extended one.  I quite simply adore my children and my husband.  I have a happy home and family life.  I have filled my friendship basket, with amazing people, who feed me, nourish me, love me and make me laugh.  I am surrounded by beauty and abundance.  Oh, not material abundance – beauty abundance.  I love my home.  I love the area we live in.  I love the people in my life.  Basically, I love.  My beloved blog is flourishing and it’s making me grow.  Feeding my soul and my heart.

My sister is fond of saying, that birthdays are her favourite too.  As it is in the one day in the year, that you get to speak to every single person in the world that is important to you.  To every person that matters to you, that loves you, and that you love in return.

And I wholeheartedly agree.  Except for one exception – not once has Brad wished me or congratulated me.  For all of my life.  Now, im pretty sure that this is not an oversight on his part.  In fact, far from it.  He would never intentionally hurt me in this way.  I’m surmising that Angelina, vetoes all of his actions.  And more than likely, she surreptitiously, intercepts his messages to me.  Clearly, I make her feel threatened.

Alas, with the exclusion and omission of wishes from my boy Brad – birthdays are magical. 

Because on a birthday, you can pretty much physically feel love.

And I love it!
 

 


 

 

4 comments:

  1. Hi my beautiful Helene! I managed to sneak this one past Angelina ( where there's a will, there's a way!) And thanks to my dear friend Bettie who has allowed me to use her details as we are SO tight (lovely lady!), I want to wish you a very very happy birthday, and know that I think of you EVERY SINGLE DAY, not just on your special day!!! We WILL be together one day my love, I promise! Yours always with love, Brad. Xxxxx PS Thanks Bets! You da bomb!

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  2. Oh do I love your blogs, and of course all the comments!!!! And also so happy that Brad has finally able to contact you through Bettie, after chatting to him on Wednesday on BBM, I offered to be the go-between, but he said that he would rather use Bettie, as she is more reliable, with her phone not always on charge, and whose internet works all the time, not only on random days like mine, so I was, a bit hurt, and to make matters worse, he says Bettie really makes him laugh, she has a fantastic sense of humour, very much like yours, so he thinks it could be genetic, so I think that I will cut my contact with Brad, and stick with Clint Eastward, and Robert De Niro, they are getting to the age where just pretend to know me, I fear it is an age thing with them, and they would hate to think that they could have an early onset of dementia

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  3. Birthdays are special!! And I was so privileged to join you and your lovely family in your tradition of the say! And I scored breakfast in bed, cake for lunch and an afternoon tea with your friends. It is wonderful that you have these strong traditions your children will always remember - you are a force with which to be reckoned!!

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  4. I just cannot keep on reading your blog without a comment Helene. What a wonderful, talented and joyful person you are! Your mom must be so proud. Om die waarheid te se al 3 julle kinders is flippen fantasties. Brad kan sy ou skoene agterna gooi. I cannot stop bragging about your writing and share it with every one still interested in reading. Sadly not a many as there used to be...Happy birthday from one Capricorn to another.

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