WAG - What I did for my Birthday
Birthdays have never been a big thing with me. Don’t get me wrong, the mid-year boost in presents is a thrill. Having a birthday in July means having your present quota even spaced throughout the year (those who have their birthdays early or late in the year have the threat of having to wait up ten months before the next round or presents, or in more serious cases, may only get one set of birthday/Christmas presents: a pitiful situation, to be certain).
Despite the perfect timing, it’s been a long time since I was counting down the days to the event.
Part of that is conditioning. Having a summer birthday meant I never got to bring cupcakes to homeroom or have a big after-school party. Kids who have a birthday in late May, June, July, or early August rarely get to hear the Happy Birthday song sung by their classmates or get to go to the front of the line to celebrate that day.
I can think of one or two times where they had a shared Summer Birthday celebration (where the half dozen or so kids finally got their due all at the same time).
A birthday in late July has rarely been good for organizing a good party. Many times, I’ve had the date hit while traveling (Thus, the infamous “Yellowstone National Park Birthday cake,” which was a Twinkie with a candle stuck in it, was born. Happy 16 Caleb! At least that made the day more memorable in an ironic sort of way).
The result is I have a low standard for birthdays and not much has to happen for me to be pleased.
This year was no exception. I got my first, and only present (thus far) shortly after midnight. My parents have been traveling all weekend and don’t get back until Monday so I promised to wait for their return before opening presents.
My sister forgot this agreement and brought a series of gifts bundled in blue Wal-Mart sacks (as was my directions. Like I said, I don’t ask for much). I reminded her of the promise, but gave in to her cajoling to open one gift.
I asked for “Lost in La Mancha,” a DVD I knew she’d bought for be, because she asked me if it would work as a present shortly before she purchased it. It’s a documentary about the “unmaking” of a movie about Don Quijote by Terry Gilliam (Monty Python alum, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). It was a disastrous shooting that was plagued by everything against locusts (which probably would have come next if the filming hadn’t been shut down following complications ranging from flooding, hail, injured actors, and flyovers by NATO planes.
It’s both hilarious and tragic to watch someone’s dream collapse in front of his or her eyes. This is the level “reality” TV shows should strive for.
I watched some of the special features before going to bed (and would later finish the film in the afternoon).
I followed the usual Sunday routine. I slept in until 8 a.m., went to church, and had a lazy afternoon. I watched Terry Gilliam movies (I followed La Mancha with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, though I fell asleep partway through the Tale of Sir Lancelot).
After slumming most of the weekend, I had to get to chores in the evening. I did laundry and worked on scrapping out grime between the bathroom tiles (as directed before my parents left).
I balanced out these grungy tasks by playing music (mostly Forbidden Broadway recordings. My sister has let me borrow her 4-cd set for over a year now, but I think she will be asking for them back so I’m getting the most out of them now).
After that, I crashed on the couch with the cat, watched some mindless TV, and worked on this post.
I got some late calls wishing me a happy birthday (even though it was nearly over) from friends and relatives. Otherwise, not much happened.
I couldn’t have asked for more.
'Happy_Birthday_to_me'
