My Day, My Way

July is my birthday month. I am not one to make a big deal about it or bring attention to myself but I do admit that it is nice to have a special day that’s solely mine, once a year. I have found only a couple of people who share my same birthday, including my girlfriend’s daughter Kathryn and Mick Jagger. Neither are my same age nor are competing with me so it feels like the day is meant just for me.

This week, my coworkers put up balloons, bought lunch from New Moon, and presented beautifully wrapped gifts for me. My family and I headed up to Deukmejian Park for a casual dinner at sunset, bundled with Gus & Andy’s takeout and simple gifts that suited me to a T. I enjoyed every minute of the daylong festivities. Honestly, I really would have been fine with no hoopla at all. Over the years, birthdays have become less and less important to me. Not because I am old but because I already have everything I need – the love of family and friends. I am grateful to have made it this far, especially after my reckless teenage years and a bumpy adulthood. My perfect, low-key celebrations this year got me thinking about how birthdays change over a lifetime.

As a kid, birthdays were everything to me. I looked forward to every single one. I counted down the days. I dreamed about how they would be. I told people I was 7½ because I couldn’t wait to be 8; I told people I was 8½ because I couldn’t wait to be 9.

I have many fond memories of my summertime birthdays. I always had a party at my house and all the neighborhood kids around my age were invited. My mom made one of my favorite cakes, either angel food with whipped cream and crushed lemon drops on top or German chocolate. The activities were always centered on getting wet in some way; it was July after all. Often, it was a kiddy pool on the front grass but sometimes it was a Slip ’N Slide, Water Wiggle, squirt guns or a major water fight with hoses and buckets. So much fun. Afterward, we would lie on our towels on the hot driveway to dry off.

Teenage birthdays usually involved going to someone’s house to hang out, movies at the Hilltop/Canyon/Rainbow Theater or, when we could drive, heading up Big T. As young adults, we usually spent our birthdays at Los Amigos, our local hangout before it became Joselito’s West in Tujunga.

When we started families, children’s parties became our focus and the parents we met through school became our friends, too. These parties seemed to happen a couple of times a month and were chaotic and loud with lots of kids running around. Boy, did I savor my own birthdays as a parent when I could break away and have a quiet dinner with my husband – just the two of us. Nowadays, I look forward to including our children and miss them when they are gone.

Some of my favorite birthdays have been at the beach or in the mountains with the goal of taking in beautiful scenery and scouting for wildlife encounters. Summer is a great time to do this. The peace that comes with sitting in nature is immeasurable.

Over the years each birthday milestone has brought me new perspective and, dare I say, wisdom. I look back and am impressed by how much I learned and experienced. What I wouldn’t give for my 20-year-old body but I truly appreciate my 60-year-old mind. Well, maybe not the parts where I lose my car keys or forgot why I came into a room. And I sure would like to “move like Jagger.”

Happy birthday to Kathryn and Mick!

Susan Bolan
susanbolan710@gmail.com