By DeeDee
(Me, circa 1961)
Today is my birthday. You can sing to me if you’d like. I won’t be embarrassed. There was a time in my life, that if you took me out to dinner, and the wait staff sauntered over to the table to sing to me, I would slide under the tablecloth. Not to be seen again until the cake was served.
And even then it was iffy.
I’m no longer easily humiliated. Childbirth seemed to have cured me. Especially after my second child. Whose entrance drew a crowd. She was expected to weigh in at around 6, maybe 7 pounds. But when she got stuck, and then pried loose, she tipped the scales at just under 9 pounds. Did I mention that I don’t have birthing hips?
There were a few dozen or so people at the business end of me grimacing, and I heard an “oh man,” “ow,” and a few “eewwwws.”
Any sense of decorum I might have held dear went right out the window.
Frankly, I welcome the loud distraction of off-key singing on my birthday. I’ll be the first one to announce to the wait staff, or drive through window attendant, as it were, that it’s my birthday.
And I will have ample opportunity, as it is a tradition that I eat out every single meal on my birthday. I may even hit 7/11 for a snack or an Icee. Because cooking is forbidden. So is the washing of dishes. I’m taking the day off.
As you read this, you can rest assured that I am likely sitting on some nice naugahyde somewhere, singing in a key that doesn’t even resemble the one I should be in. Celebrating another year of precious life.
Because life is meant to be celebrated. Especially if you’re a mom.
DeeDee blogs at Fiddledeedee.
Happy Birthday, DeeDee! I hope you have a wonderful day and a fantastic year!
“Happy Birthday to you!” (sung very offkey just for you . . .)
I love how that whole delivery thing takes away all inhibitions. I never imagined I could care so little about modesty and image and all that, until it happened.
Hopefully, you aren’t wearing that lovely pink pantyhose over your head an go to 7/11 or through the driver through.
Happy Birthday to one of my fav persons ever.
happy birthday!
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear DeeeDeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Happy birthday to yooooooooooooouuuuu.
Totally off key and pitch…but the sentiments are sincere.
Have a fabulous and fantastic day!
Happy birthday! Love the post.
(Ahem. La-la-la-la-la!)
“From the pasta we make
To lasagna we bake
(ba ba ba ba)
We’re wising you a happy birthday!
We hope you will remember
This fond event forever
We’re wishing you a happy birthday!
(1-2-3)
It’s like family and friends
At the Olive Garden
In the true Italiano way
So if you’re (mumble, mumble, mumble)
Try (mumble, watermelon, mumble)
Have a happy happy day
Hey!”
For your next birthday, I’ll break out the Friday’s Happy Birthday song. I might even dig out my flair, still store in a box in my garage.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEDEE!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Deedee, Happy birthday to YOOUUUUU!
Hmm, my birthday is in a couple weeks, wonder if I can convince everyone to give me a day off (well, since the kids make most of their own meals I am not sure if that would really help….have to think on that one.)
DeeDee, Hope you have the bestest birthday EVER!! You deserve it! and the Icee from 7-11, too! Remind the kiddos that TODAY is your DAY!!! not theirs!!
Happy birthday to you, DeeDee!
Happy birthday! Eat up, and enjoy a delicious day of eating and celebrating! (Hopefully you get at least one free meal 🙂
Happy Birthday DeeDee!! I hope you are enjoying your b-day meals from all over town. 🙂
happy birthday! hope it’s a great one
Happy birthday and many more, as my grandmother used to say.
I swear I thought your last line read: “Especially if you’re a NOM.”
I think I’m spending too much time on LOLCATS.
Happy Birthday! I was just thinking today about how much less self-conscious I am now that I’ve had my daughter, Jaedyn (now three months). I think birth cured me, too. I had no idea who the people were coming in and out of that room but I didn’t care, I just wanted that baby OUT. lol
Anyway, I sing to Jaedyn out in PUBLIC *gasp* (lol) and babble away to her, and when she cries or… *ahem* has a very loud bowel movement in church during prayer (*sigh*), I’m not totally humiliated like I would have been before.
Personally, I think I’m able to enjoy life much more now. 🙂
Happy Birthday DeeDee!!!
I like that tradition you have. I’m going to steal it for my birthdays from now on. Save my husband the trouble of forgetting…
Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great day!
Speaking of off-key singing… my family has made it a tradition to sing “Happy Birthday” as horribly as possible – everyone singing in different keys, tempos, and sometimes their very own versions of the song, all at once. It’s always fun to watch the reactions of first-timers to one of our celebrations.
Happy birthday!
My extended family has a tradition of calling the birthday celebrator and singing – so I get so many horrible renditions of happy birthday on August 31st that my ears hurt just remembering it.
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