A Birthday in December…

Today is my Birthday – and over the years I’ve become a bit of a birthday bah humbug, certainly the typical birthday grimaces - getting older is always a highlight, grey hairs, body aches, funny lines, ever changing life plans, etc… but really - having a Birthday just 12 days before Christmas is just well – Bah Humbug.  So when I was younger I made up a bunch of Birthday Rules (especially for Birthdays near Christmas):

1. Birthdays are special, unique, and personal.
2. Cakes should be pretty, and displayed on special cake plates adorned with candles in age specific qty or age symbolic.
3. There must be candles, they must be lit, they must be blown out,and there must be a wish made!
4. No Birthday gifts shall be accepted wrapped in Christmas paper.
5. No Christmas/ Birthday Combo Gifts.  Really, would a June Birthday share gifts with Christmas?  Perhaps an exception could be made - if it is worthy… house, car, big trip – you get it , truly combo worthy.
6. Seasonal Gifts, i.e. Christmas sweaters for a Birthday (for obvious reasons including: holidays are to be celebrated not worn), Strictly Winter activities and accessories – there are some but few exceptions with this, leave the seasonal activity for Christmas.
7. Adding to hobbies make for easy gifts and are personal – but some hobbies are private, sentimental collections or specific – inquire with in – feel free to be sneaky – but do inquire.
8. When it comes to clothing as a gift – gift cards , cash– most people purchase clothes in a non winter season – 2/3 months out of the year isn’t enough to warrant extreme wardrobe limitations – Christmas season clothing shopping is limited   - great sales but limited selection indeed.
9. It’s my day – all day, It’s ok to take off work, go to lunch, do something extraordinary.
10. No major announcements, or other great distractions leading up to a birthday – really Christmas is enough.
11. Always hope for birthday snow – ok so this seems a bit backwards – but if it’s winter it should look it and a snow day is always welcome.  (I usually get rain – today included)
12. Always buy yourself a gift – you’ll always get one thing you want – and it’s fun to figure out what you should get yourself! – hmmm… what do I really want this year?

I am sure there were more, I make lots of rules – these are the rules I remember – Ultimately  birthdays need to be remembered.