Sixteen Candles. Plus another sixteen. Or so.

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‘Thinking flaming birthday thoughts today.’

I would light the candles on my cake this year, but I’m afraid I’d trigger the sprinkler system. I have reached a remarkable age. An age that is somewhere between ‘Can I please have a tea set for my dolls?’ and ‘Can I please leave a tea set for my Child?’

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t appreciate having a birthday. After all, as our good friend Andy (who is a heck of a lot older than me) says: ‘Any day above ground is a good day’.

Andy, in fact, doesn’t just say this. He has it printed on birthday pens and birthday tee shirts and even birthday chocolate bar wrappers. Andy is into birthdays, big time. He’s also a Trump Supporter. So there’s that.

Andy’s attitude toward the inevitable accumulation of more and more birthdays is, alas, the opposite of my own late lamented father’s. He, when wished ‘happy birthday’ (or even when not wished ‘happy birthday’, like just on any ordinary, random day) would often remark: ‘Don’t get old’. Which, um, sort of triggers a response of ‘Hmmm. Okay. But I’m kind of not into the alternative.’

As for me, I rather enjoy birthdays and all the attention that comes with. I’ve gotten rather good at accepting compliments, and even gifts. But then, I’ve had plenty of practice. It’s just a bit disorienting when those birthdays seem to come around every week instead of every year.

And I do appreciate a birthday cake, or at least the candle part. There were indeed years when I lit them. And could blow them all out. With ease. I seem to recall a cake that had a Barbie Doll baked into the base, which looked like a big curtsey-worthy cotillion skirt. But I could be wrong about that, because our mother made our cakes. And I honestly don’t think she would have baked a Barbie.

Here I am, getting ready to huff and puff and blow those four (?) candles to Kingdom come

Here I am, getting ready to huff and puff and blow those four (?) candles to Kingdom come. And yes, my mom made that awesome cake. There is no Barbie attached, but it’s a heart, and it’s homemade. And on a cake stand (!)

Speaking of Barbies, the prettiest and most popular girl in my high school class was named Barbie. And she married a guy whose last name was Doll. No, I did not make this up.

But, again. Back to my birthdays.

I was so into birthday cakes when I was young(er) that once I demanded one even when it was most decidedly not my birthday.

Um. Look who had to have a birthday cake. Even though it was not her birthday. Scott, the Birthday Boy, and our cute neighbor Theresa seem fine with this arrangement. My Mother is a Saint Who Walks The Earth

Um. Look who had to have a birthday cake too. Scott, the actual Birthday Person, and our cute neighbor Theresa seem fine with this arrangement. My Mother, BTW, is a Saint Who Walks The Earth

My brother, pictured above with his own cake (and mine) was no wuss. He eventually decided that he didn’t really want a birthday cake — even a ‘black cake with blue frosting’, which was his fave for a time — he wanted a birthday pie. Which my mother continues to produce for him to this very day. (Like I said, she’s a Saint Who Walks the Earth.)

Even when I celebrate my birthday ‘away’, like with my Mom or my Sister, or even The Child, like we did this weekend, all turns out well, sometimes with flames.

A relatively-recent birthday celebrated with my Incredible Mom and Equally-Incredible Sister. The one candle is, obviously, a place-holder

A relatively-recent random-yet-memorable birthday celebrated with my Incredible Mom and Equally-Incredible Sister. No, I was not one year old that year

No cake. But I did get a candle that year

No cake. But I did get a candle that year. And, of course, that’s the best part. And no, I wasn’t one year old that year, either

This particular pre-birthday weekend, we (The Dude and I, since he is co-parent) Amtraked up to Cambridge to visit Said Child on her own turf. We did this not because it was my birthday, but because we were way overdue for a visit. We had not visited her since she moved there. Which was more than two years ago. Helicopter Parents, we are most decidedly not. Incidentally, The Child treated at dinner. And had the waiter bring a lighted dessert to the table. Now I really know I’m getting old.

The Dude and The Child toast me with smoothies

The Dude and The Child toast me with smoothies

So. Today — this very day, Tuesday, November first — is my birthday. I’m celebrating with plenty of champagne. And not only because I love champagne. Yesterday was Halloween, and no one ‘got’ my costume. Which was ‘Somewhat Older Upper East Side Lady Out For A Walk’.

I'll end this Birthday Post with a shot of me in my Birthday Suit

I’ll end this Birthday Post with a shot of me in my Birthday Suit

Got to get Birthday Busy now. Places to go, people to see. Champagne to drink! See you next week, when I’ll be one week older (gasp) than I am today.

New York City. November 2016

 

 

 

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20 thoughts on “Sixteen Candles. Plus another sixteen. Or so.”

  1. Losing the Plot

    Ha! barbie Doll! That makes me think back to my class at school. It was remarkable we had Rodger Moore, Julie Andrews, Glenn Miller, Glen Campbell, and John Lennon, but no Barbie Dolls Lol!

  2. A great look at what birthdays mean at different stages of our lives…happy birthday to you, this was a fun read and a reminder to enjoy life always! I always say “you can’t stop the aging process but you never have to get old.”

  4. A belated Happy Birthday to you! Hope you enjoyed all the champagne. I know what you mean about the candles. Dr BD thought it would be fun to cover my cake in 45 of them last year and it was verging on dangerous 😉 #weekendblogshare x

  5. Beverly

    Happy Birthday Alice from Bev Henry in Detroit. Look forward to your blog every week as I recover from hip surgery. Keep writing–I love it.

  6. Ruth Meisenheimer

    Satchel Paige said ” How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was”. Age just doesn’t matter!! Well, who am I kidding. Enjoy your day, year, etc., Alice! Much love.

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