When we were teenagers, birthdays were eagerly anticipated. They were rites of passage: a driver’s license to gain new freedom; permission to buy booze legally; the right to vote in elections. Birthdays were good.
In our 20’s and 30’s, birthdays came and went, sometimes an excuse for a party but often not of any significance. They just happened. So what?
With the passage of time, birthdays began to gradually introduce a new concept: old age. Never our own, of course. In our 40’s and 50’s birthdays were treated with ridicule or denial. Yet, behind the rude birthday cards, there was the faint whisper that old age would bring diminished function and capacity But not for us, not now. Maybe eventually, but not now.
As we continued to age, physical challenge became hard to deny. Old age was less of a vague concept and more of a persistent reality. Our 60’s brought caution when playing sports. We learned to understand what we could do and what we could not do. Also, doctor visits were more frequent and more focused. Birthdays were no longer celebrated.
But then in our 70’s, we flipped the switch. Birthdays were once again celebrated. They were no longer denied, no longer dreaded. They were celebrated as true achievements. Ah ha, we managed to eke out one more.
So, when you wish me a Happy Birthday this November, know that I will be celebrating with a smile on my face. And, with heartfelt gusto, I will raise my middle finger to salute Father Time!