I was born on Christmas morning early. My Mom tells the story that I was over due and what she had hoped was that I would be born on her birthday in mid December but it turned out that I was born a couple weeks later on Christmas morning. Naturally she says I was her best Christmas present ever. She said they wrapped me in a blanket and put a ribbon around me when they brought me to her for the first time.
Lots of times throughout my life I get condolences that my birthday is on Christmas as many folks think that my birthday is shuffled into the background and ignored or forgotten. My family however has always managed not to do that and has usually kept it separate. I have noticed over the years that friends do often forget my birthday. The exceptions have been when the Rivera family would come by Christmas morning to tell me happy birthday and give me a fresh pineapple which was very much appreciated. This year I received a text from my friend John who remembered my birthday which made me feel good. But I have never received many birthday cards. It hasn't bothered me much. I remember my birthday and that is good enough for me.
In recent years we have started celebrating my birthday late on Christmas Eve at my Mom's house after the Christmas Eve party. The down side is that no one is hungry for birthday cake after eating such a great variety at the party. The thinking has been that this was a good time to celebrate it since no one wanted to go to bed anyway and that we typically have such a lot to do on Christmas Day that it is hard to find the time and it feels like I am squeezing it in.
So after the party is over and most of the folks have left we have a little birthday party which includes singing and opening present and then having birthday cake which is often just me having a piece.
This year things went great. The presents I received were great and enjoyable and it served the purpose of a bridge from the party to Christmas morning. As usually Lisa tries to surprise me with a present that I didn't expect. She did so this year with purchasing a present for me that indeed I didn't expect. It was a Kindle book reader! I had not even considered that possibility. So I am excited to see what I can do with it. I'll put scriptures and other things on there and see if they are all cracked up to be as good as they say.
By the way, when people speculate that having a Christmas birthday must be bad I always point out to them that it is great to have the day off every year in my line of work. At my current agency where I work they give you a day off for your birthday and with my situation I am able to use it another day in December which always gives me plenty of time off around the holidays and with family and friends that are visiting.
I like my birthday when it is. I remember once when I was young and I guess my Dad wondered if I felt like I got jipped with my birthday on Christmas. He offered to let me celebrate it any day I wanted even in the middle of the summer if I wanted. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is my preference. Thanks Dad for giving me the option.
