i’m not one of those people who makes a big deal about birthdays. actually, let me rephrase that. i don’t like making a big deal about my birthday. despite my reputation for being an attention-whore, i actually don’t like having other people make a fuss over me. i don’t really like having people do things for me; i prefer to be the doer and the giver than the other way around. back in college, jon and i were known as the birthday cake people, making ugly looking cakes for everyone on their birthdays and going to great lengths to suprise people.

that’s always been a facet of my personality. i’m definitely a subscriber to the whole “do onto others” (Luke 6:31) philosophy of life, almost always putting others ahead of myself. i don’t like doing things for solely my benefit mostly because i don’t want other people thinking i’m self-centered or self-absorbed. i know i shouldn’t really care what other people think of me, and while over the last few years i’ve grown to care less, it’s always been a part of me, something that was ingrained in me since childhood.

growing up, birthdays weren’t important to me. sure, i like the parties and the gifts–who doesn’t like getting things–but i never really celebrated it with my friends. see, i’m a july baby, a cancer, so my birthday came around during summer break from school. so while other kids whose birthmonths were from september to july had cupcakes brought in and a party thrown for them, i never had that. we always knew the birthdays of those kids–we did get cake, after all–but us summer babies tended to be forgotten. so over the years, i grew to not see the importance of a big birthday celebration.

so when debbie approached me about throwing myself a birthday party three weeks or so ago, i initiall scoffed at the idea. my birthday the last two years were spent away from home; last year, i was on a plane to seattle and the year before, i was in new hampshire, so my feelings about my upcoming birthday were a little soured. but somehow, she convinced me in a way only she could have, so i sent the evite out and within a few days, i was expecting 18 people over. i stressed for a few days and then before i knew it, everyone had come, eaten and left.

i think the party was undoubtedly a success. everyone had a good time, no one seemed bored and certainly, no one left hungry. and i will say that i couldn’t have done it without her. from the chafing dishes, to the chairs, to the disposable dishes & utensils, she made this party. she was an amazing host and i can’t thank her enough for all that she’s done for me; she even cleaned up afterwards even though she was pooped! words cannot possibly express how grateful i am for everything. so thank you from the bottom of my heart, for this and for everything that you’ve brought to my life.

i’ll have to wait until next march when it’s her birthday to make it as unforgettable as mine.