Short of putting it on a billboard (or on a banner behind a small airplane), I make sure I announce its arrival to everyone I know.
Honestly, I'm not looking for gifts. I'm not even expecting cards. (Baked goods maybe.)
But when August 15th rolls around, I simply want friends to stop and think, "Oh, yea! Today is Nancy's birthday."
My constant reminding has paid off.
Most of my friends can tell you my birthday without hesitation. Even friends I haven't seen in years can recall the date.
And, even if they don't call or write, I know when I wake up on my birthday, they are thinking of me.
That's all I've ever wanted.
Until this year.
This year, I'll admit I was hoping for something.
Expecting rather.
When I turned on my phone first thing in the morning, I anxiously went to Facebook.
Surely some night owl, well-wisher had posted "Happy Birthday!" at 12:01 a.m. and I couldn't wait to read it as well as all the other messages that I envisioned flooding in.
But, not one message.
Suddenly, I felt like a disappointed kid. Childhood memories of being unpopular came to mind.
Everybody gets Facebook Birthday messages. Why not me?
The feelings of my 10-year-old self didn't feel good. I much prefer the feelings of my grown-up self who just imagines people remembering my birthday!
An hour went by and I checked again.
Still, nothing.
Since I was visiting a friend, I felt rude constantly checking my phone but I couldn't resist.
Finally, my friend asked, "Nancy, why don't you have your birthday posted on your Facebook page?"
Like a kid, I rushed to check my settings.
Wrong!
Like a mother who has no idea how to do anything on my phone, I texted my son for help.
When he didn't respond fast enough, that's when, like a kid, I quickly went to my settings.
My hands were almost shaking in my haste. My friend pointed out the lock icon on my birthday.
That's it! My birthday wasn't "public."
Then I remembered.
Like an adult, I decided not to post my birthday when I set up my Facebook page for fear someone would steal my identity.
But, to heck with my identity, I wanted my Facebook birthday messages so I quickly corrected it.
Within minutes, my first two Birthday wishes appeared (thanks Travis and Shelley).
As the day went on, more and more wishes popped up (thanks Mark Zuckerberg and all of my wonderful Facebook friends).
Next year, I hope I can act my age. Maybe I'll wait until the end of the day to read my wishes all at one time.
Or maybe, I'll delete my birthday all together and enjoy my birthday wishes in my imagination.
Then again, maybe I'll stare at my phone all day and go one step further and compare the number of "Birthday wishes" I get with someone else on Facebook who has more than me and sulk like a kid.
Sure hope not.
And, even if they don't call or write, I know when I wake up on my birthday, they are thinking of me.
That's all I've ever wanted.
Until this year.
This year, I'll admit I was hoping for something.
Expecting rather.
When I turned on my phone first thing in the morning, I anxiously went to Facebook.
Surely some night owl, well-wisher had posted "Happy Birthday!" at 12:01 a.m. and I couldn't wait to read it as well as all the other messages that I envisioned flooding in.
But, not one message.
Suddenly, I felt like a disappointed kid. Childhood memories of being unpopular came to mind.
Everybody gets Facebook Birthday messages. Why not me?
The feelings of my 10-year-old self didn't feel good. I much prefer the feelings of my grown-up self who just imagines people remembering my birthday!
An hour went by and I checked again.
Still, nothing.
Since I was visiting a friend, I felt rude constantly checking my phone but I couldn't resist.
Finally, my friend asked, "Nancy, why don't you have your birthday posted on your Facebook page?"
Like a kid, I rushed to check my settings.
Wrong!
Like a mother who has no idea how to do anything on my phone, I texted my son for help.
When he didn't respond fast enough, that's when, like a kid, I quickly went to my settings.
My hands were almost shaking in my haste. My friend pointed out the lock icon on my birthday.
That's it! My birthday wasn't "public."
Then I remembered.
Like an adult, I decided not to post my birthday when I set up my Facebook page for fear someone would steal my identity.
But, to heck with my identity, I wanted my Facebook birthday messages so I quickly corrected it.
Within minutes, my first two Birthday wishes appeared (thanks Travis and Shelley).
As the day went on, more and more wishes popped up (thanks Mark Zuckerberg and all of my wonderful Facebook friends).
Next year, I hope I can act my age. Maybe I'll wait until the end of the day to read my wishes all at one time.
Or maybe, I'll delete my birthday all together and enjoy my birthday wishes in my imagination.
Then again, maybe I'll stare at my phone all day and go one step further and compare the number of "Birthday wishes" I get with someone else on Facebook who has more than me and sulk like a kid.
Sure hope not.
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| Where oh where are my birthday messages? Oh where oh where can they be? |
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