Birthday Peas and Birthday Wishes

More peas? Aren’t they out of season? Not this kind, they happen to be in their prime.  A good friend got me a ticket to see the Black Eyed Peas for my birthday. Actually, in a serendipitous turn of events my favorite music group happened to have been playing in a city I thoroughly enjoy visiting, the day before my birthday. It’s like they planned it for me personally. Ok, so it’s more like I have a friend who came through with a fantastic pick-me-up birthday gift in the midst of a summer that has been, well, below average.

The show was in Atlantic City, NJ so unlike nearly every other concert I have attended, rather than trudge to my car and fight traffic after the lights went up, we were herded onto the boardwalk like cattle and then into a casino… just where I wanted to be. I have a fondness for video poker. I’m not terribly good at it, mind you, I just enjoy it. So I heralded in my newest year drinking ‘free’ cocktails playing a very expensive video game. Heaven.

The bad thing about a really good night, though, is having to wake up from it. As in, uggh. The next morning, well, later that same morning, really, was brutal. I guess that was my body’s way of saying, “what were you thinking?” I’m not sure how rock stars party, but if that’s a prerequisite to becoming one, I think I’ll pass.

I managed to trudge through the rest of the day, but really it was in such a way that the people around me weren’t too eager to celebrate my birth. Perhaps that is why when a good friend forgot to send me a birthday card, I got a little twitchy. Mind you, I don’t expect all of my friends to send me birthday cards or even to acknowledge my birthday. I’m old enough to recognize that probably the only ones who really care about the day I was born are me and my mother. However, there are some people who can just be counted on; be it a phone call, an e-mail, a card or a present. And while their annual recognition brings a warm feeling of contentment, not receiving wishes from them sends a much louder message than not receiving it from someone else. As in, oh crap, what did I do to get kicked off their list? Being too self-involved is taking its toll! Mayday! Mayday!

A couple of my wishes were late because my birthday was on a Sunday and that can clog up the works. No post on Sundays and all. But there was one in particular for which I went searching once Monday’s mail came and went and didn’t bring her dependable card with it.

Now some people might find it off putting to be asked, “Ahem, where’s my birthday card?” But you know you’ve got a true friend when instead of saying, “I forgot, whack job, why are you being so ridiculous as to ask for well wishes? What are you, five? Get a grip.” she sent me not one card, but three. And I’m here to tell you, when a person is feeling insecure, there is no such thing as overkill. Receiving three cards is like a warm blanket. So all is again well in the world. 

If nothing else, this summer has taught me that there are some things I thought I could count on but I couldn’t, and some things I still can. Thank goodness.