Back in My Prime

I used to be amazing at birthdays. I was raised in a family where birthdays were a big deal and gift giving was modeled well. So in turn I would always do a great job loving on the people who are important to me on their birthday. And if you ever told me you never had a party or birthdays were never a big deal - Watch Out!

When Joshua turned 18 I set up a small gift everyday for 18 days leading up to his birthday. Then on his birthday I got someone to cover his shift without his knowledge and surprised him by being at his house when he got home from work.

I had a roommate in college who was lucky enough to have her birthday at the beginning of the year that we lived together (because by the end I wouldn't have gotten her a card). I had a random student show up and drive her on a scavenger hunt that ended with a surprise party at Chuck-E-Cheese where she said she had always wanted to have a party as a child.

I was the person who listened to what people said all year waiting to hear the perfect "I wish I had..." so that it was waiting for them on their birthday. I set the bar high for birthdays.

Recently I had a friend mention that she was doing a birthday surprise for her husband that would make me proud and I realized: I haven't done birthdays justice in years. Joshua and I have made a decision to basically skip gift giving at birthdays and Christmas to each other and I'm starting to think that decision may not be the best. I miss giving surprises and pulling off the impossible and the look on the other person's face when it is just what they wanted. I'm not sure how I'm going to revive this talent but I'll have the skill back up and running before Ehren knows any different.