Birthdays are now birthweeks

January 31, 2010 - Speaking of birthdays, a friend of mine has a birthday today. When I asked her what she was doing for her birthday (mind you I asked her on Friday) she said, "the birthday celebration has begun". To which I said, "oh you are celebrating your birthday today"? And she said, "and tomorrow and the next day, and actually it has been going on all week". So when did birthdays turn into week long celebrations. I thought it was a yearly celebration, unless of course you were born in leap year, then I thought you just missed out. Sucks not to have a birthday but every four years, but then again, you don't age as quickly.

So I am puzzled by several anomolies associated with the birthday. Like how come when you are born it is not your birthday, you have after all just been born. Instead, we wait a full year and say you just had your first birthday, which really is your second. Not sure I get that, but it does keep us a year younger. And when did 'the birthday' morph into days, weeks, and some, even month long celebrations. And does everyone have more than one day for the celebration or is it only for certain people and not all. And how do you know who has what. I mean if I was celebrating the birthday of my friend, I could say Happy Birthday anytime during the 'week' and not be late. All those belated birthday cards could become obsolete. Or really do you say happy birthday everyday during the celebration week or do you alter the saying to happy birthdays, or happy birthweek or happy birthmonth. Who is making up all these rules. If you do celebrate for a week are all birthdays after that meant to be week long celebrations also, or can you celeberate for a week and then skip the next six years. At least then you would be ahead of the game, but then who really wants to move ahead seven years during a week. And what about leap year that only comes every four years. So if you have a birthday on February 29th, should you celebrate for four day because you aren't having another one for four years. And does your age increment only 4 years at a time, so that when you turn 20 you could say technically you are only 5. Another thing I am not quite sure I understand, is the giving and the getting. When it is your birthday you are 'given' a present. However today if you go to a birthday celebration chances are along with 'giving' a present to the birthday person you also will be 'getting' a present, from the birthday person. And let me tell you these gifts that you receive on other peoples birthday are some pretty cool stuff, sometimes better than the gift you gave. And how come when you ask someone what they want for their birthday, they say, "nothing I just want you to be at my party". However, when you arrive empty handed, they immediately remove your gift that you were going to receive for coming to the party. Arrive empty handed assume you are going home empty handed.

So I thought birthdays were a one day celebration honoring a person who has lived life for another year. One day a year and then you wait for next year. I learned birthdays can be whenever you want them to be (some folks actually celebrate half year birythdays). In the case of half year celebrations I am not sure if it is because they won't be here at the end of the full year, or if they think certain times of the year yeild better presents. At any rate, my birthday is May 13th. I only celebrate for one day, and I really am a fan of 'getting' the present on my day. In fact to make it easy on everyone, I will usually send out reminders with a list of my favorite items I would like to receive. A little reminder goes a long way.