Birthdays. No, I’m not having one…possibly ever again. I mean, enough is enough, right? Comedian Patton Oswalt says we shouldn’t celebrate every year anyway. That the first ten are good, after which we should go to a ‘just big events’ type of system… the 13th cuz you’re a teenager, the 18th cuz you’re allowed to vote etc. Then after you’re 90, you can celebrate a birthday every day of the week if you’re so inclined. Plus, for each year you live after that you’re allowed to break one law. Shoplifting is acceptable at some point, and I’m pretty sure murder’s okay once you hit 100. I’m not positive of the exact rules. Perhaps they haven’t been finalized with the government yet.But I digress. I was going to talk about birthday ideas cuz my daughter is turning 21 in May. Twenty-one is a big one, even by Mr. Oswalt’s standards. And I don’t know how to commemorate it. We talked about going to a bed and breakfast, working on our book, and hanging out together. We considered getting drunk. (She doesn’t drink…ever, and I’ve never been intoxicated so it would probably be fairly entertaining…and perhaps a bit disturbing.) We debated taking my mom with us, because she’s not a drinker either and maybe we should get matching tattoos while we’re sloshed. He boyfriend suggested getting her a small caliber pistol, because she’s old enough to carry concealed!
Or… we could go bungee jumping, try steer wrestling, experiment with belly dancing? Sky dive? Ski jour? Shoot skeet?
Man, my mind is fried. Which is why I’m writing this post.
What’s your favorite birthday memory? Was it something big, traditional, romantic, silly, unexpected, simple? At this point of imagination meltdown I’ll welcome any ideas. Help meeeeee!
www.loisgreiman.com
15 comments:
Today is my dd's 21st bday!!! Can't believe it. She's celebrating by going out with friends tonight. We're doing a family dinner later this week.
I took her balloons yesterday, but if it was just the two of us celebrating, I think I'd do a spa day.
I know you'll think of something, Lois!
Never been drunk? Hum. It might be time - just so you can BOTH say you've been there, done that. :o)
You've got lots of good ideas Lois. I'm sure she'll love any one of them.
As for my most memorable - my 'buddies' threw a surprise party for me on my 50th. Had to be at least 60 people there including my mother and siter AND our son and his new girlfriend (now our dtr in law) who I'd never met before. In any event, before the night was over i was handcuffed to a chair watching this gorgeous tattooed 'cop' strip in front of me. Rememver I said mother and son and girlfriend plus the DH was also there to witness this. It was one of my most embarassing and funniest birthdays ever.
My parents took me to a night club for my 21st. A new and upcoming comedienne was performing, as I recall. Her name was Joan Rivers. I got carded at the door, and the sentry had his days mixed up and thought the day was the 25th, which would have made me one day too young to get in, but he conceded his error. I have no clue what I ordered to drink, since I wasn't much of a drinker then. I'm still not much of a drinker, but I don't drink a lot of a lot more drinks, if that makes sense.
Good luck.
Helen, a spa day is a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thanks.
I have had all the big milestone birthdays, mostly suprises parties. My 21st was the first big birthday and my parents went all out, renting a hall, a DJ and food the whole works.. But I always felt bad that my four brothers didn't get these kinds of birthdays. I asked them one time if they were upset or jealous, but they told me that it was not important to them.. I gave my oldest brother a 21st birthday party, and I have tried to do things for the other boys birthdays. We are all in our 40's and 50's now.
But I think every birthday should be celebrated, not just the milestone birthdays.. It is a day for family and friends to celebrate and share you another year.
my bday is the 5th of april,ack
Cindy, I don't even KNOW 60 people...but I wish I had been there. Sounds soooo fun...even without the stripper....maybe.
Oh! A stripper!! Tara would absolutely DIE!
Terry, Joan Rivers!! How fun. I've considered seeing a comedian.
I can see you and Tara doing something like...saving the world, or at least a small portion of it, for something fabulous. :-)
And if not that, then go for the tattoos.
Michele, I heard about a guy who was trying to sail to Australia on a boat made of plastic bottles to draw attention to the problem of plastic in the ocean. I asked her if she was game to sail away on a milk carton...but she's still debating. :)
I'll send you some plastic bottle caps to decorate the good ship Greiman!
In college, my friends and I had the tradition of going out at midnight when we turned 21 to buy our first legal 6 pack of beer. Really funny since my school was a "dry campus". I personally like the spa day, but maybe throw in either wine or champagne when you get mani/pedis.
Our parents did a double party at the Officers' Club for my 10th birthday and my sister's 4th. It felt really classy and special. There was a photographer, and I have a wonderful family picture. Jill and I wore sister dresses.
I had a surprise party for Clyde for his 40th when we lived in Bismarck. Lt Gov Ruth Myers attended. Not many people knew we knew her, so people were pretty surprised. Actually, Clyde was blown away by the whole thing.
My daughter's M-I-L arranges girls' night/day out for birthdays. We've done tours, belly dance lessons, the Walker, movies, craft shows, art fairs, garden shows, all kinds of stuff. Celebrate life!
Kathy, neat ideas. I think that ever since women quit quilting, we don't spend enough time together.
you guys are all so classy it makes me feel like a slug.
unfortunately, there were photographers at my 50th party, took Kathy - something I'd rather not have had preserved for posterity. :o(
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