Birthdays Through the Years

I've previously mentioned loving my birthday because it's an opportunity to think about and appreciate my friends. These are people who treat me like gold. And what other way to test friendship than by having them take care of you while you're toasted?

As I celebrated my 29th birthday this year, I reminisced with my friend Cynthia about my 26th birthday party. We were laughing about incidents uppublishable here, but part of her story included her detail about taking the garbage out and trying to find the bin outside. Imagine, it's your friend's bday, you're in a houseful of people -- most who you don't know -- she's happily blitzed, and you're stuck with the garbage. That's a true friend.

But that's the least of it. That year Cynthia was part of a group that insisted on organizing a party that was my idea -- and that was the day after they kidnapped me for a night out on the town. It's one birthday of a series of awesome birthdays my friends have made me feel special. At minimum, every year I have a wall full of cards, phone calls, texts and emails remembering me. A few highlights:

28th: Twenty-something friends meet me at Piece restaurant and brewery in Wicker Park. We eat a lot, we drink a lot, and the night is capped off when my friend Tim, a kickass drummer in an amazing karaoke band, sings Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger" to me by substituting my name for "Sally." The entire bar claps and wishes me a birthday. I proceed to do shots with my friends and the band and fall asleep that night drunk and weepy -- tears of happiness.

26th: This is the aforementioned kdinapping and party. The first night, I thought I was going to a random gallery opening with my roommate Suzy and open the door to find two other friends, Laurie and Cynthia. I was blindfolded and brought to a tapast bar for a cocktail -- where I drank sangria with the blindfold on -- then driven to Batteries Not Included where I got to choose a toy. We ended the night at Corosh for pasta.

And that was the first night! The next day, Laurie, Suzy and Cynthia hosted a party I started to organize, complete with Comadena (Laurie's mom's amazing food) rigatoni and a three-tier cake.

23rd: Home from college, I end up with gastroenteritis and am forced to cancel a series of dinners with friends and families for an entire month. (I should mention that I found out I had the bug during a birthday night with Laurie out on the town; she proceeded to escort me the next day via ambulance to the hospital). But my friends insisted I celebrate: Jackie, Jennifer, Diane and Pete -- all good friends to this day from high school -- surprised me at my house, toasted with Gatorade and took me to a local jazz club. How nice is that?

21th: Oh, the memories. Senior Year college. A large but close group of friends from every year at Maryland and prior -- my best friend comes over from Georgetown and is my designated babysitter -- come to my apartment alcohol in tote (my goal was to have a full bar) and even some awesome gifts (blenders and more!) for some predrinking. Those who are old enough head to a local bar, Cornerstone, where I don't take long to hit the wall. A group proceeds to walk me back to my apartment where I spend a good time throwing up (with hair pulled back, thanks to friends); and while I'm indisposed, my awesome guy friends clean the kitchen and apartment. I pee on myself in my bed that night, but my best friend, Sabrina, cleans me up. I'm a mess, but I wake up hearing that the party was awesome and teary-eyed b/c I knew how much my friends took care of me.

20th, 19th, 18th: I'm surprised in some way -- a night at a comedy club, an organized dorm floor get together, my favorite cake (coconut), etc. -- by my roommates and friends.

Other memories:
19th: Sabrina treats me to the Melting Pot
Throughout high school: Locker decorations!
12th: Only two weeks into my new junior high school, a friend decorates my locker. How nice is that?

I know I'm failing to remember surprises, awesome gifts and touching phone calls of wishes. I didn't even mention my family get togethers. It's easy to see why I love my birthday. That's why I love to help people celebrate, too! I'm expecting next year to be a biggie -- after all, it will be the big 3-0. We'll see.