Happy Birthday to Me

I just turned 30.


At first I was excited. I have wanted to be thirty since I was a pre-teen. But as it came closer I got the blues. I wanted to celebrate in style, but felt lame throwing myself a party. Half my friends were going to be out of town anyway. Then I wanted to spend the day out of town shopping or refreshing, but some relatives and family friends were visiting from out of town so that wasn't going to work. Also I share my birthday now with one of my beautiful nieces (best birthday present I ever got by the way) and she happens to be Sadie's best friend, so it's usually all about her party on my birthday. Which is totally fine with me, I love to make birthdays special for kids. And she wanted a party at the water slides, so that was fun. But this was going to be my 30th. And for some crazy reason 30 has been more important to me than any other birthday. Better than 16, way cooler than 18, and more exciting than 21, 30 just hits the spot with me, it's weird I know. But I was a little let down that noone was offering to have a party for me. I had even straight out told my sister to throw me a surprise party. But she refused.

Oh my sweet sister never disappoints though. Ok that's a lie, there have been times when she has disappointed me and I'm sure there will be more, she maybe close to perfect, but she's still human. But this time she didn't disappoint me. She threw me not one but two surprise parties.

First, on Saturday, the day after my birthday party she and two friends were going to take me out for dinner. Our other friends were out of town like I said so she it was going to be a small group. So when we arrived at the restaurant I was surprised to see several of my friends waiting for me with balloons, big fake plastic earrings, matching sparkly plastic tiara and everything. There were friends there my sister didn't even know very well, and my best friend from out of town. What a fun surprise. Of course we ate too much, then went over to another restaurant for coffee and desesrt and which also turned into some appetizers and we again ate way way too much. But it was fun and memorable, and so very very sweet.

Next day a small intimate family bbq was planned. I invited Janet, my out of town friend to spend the night and join us for the bbq. Little did I know that was the plan the whole time. The next morning she suggested we go out to breakfast like old times. My mom offered to watch the kids and said take our time. So we ate a long relaxed breakfast, Then we stopped by the grocery store to see if another friend was working and the Janet wanted to go to the mall so we hung out there. I was rather embarrased because I had chosen to just wear my sweats out to our little breakfast jaunt, and now found myself cruising the mall but hey I'm 30 who do I need to impress. Then we finally got back to my parents house just in time for the bbq. I walk in and appologize for being almost late. Not a big deal I'm told relax and enjoy my birthday weekend. We head out to the deck to have some chips and dipand wait for lunch to be ready. And then....

Down the lake a bit I see a train of boats coming. Don't think much of it there is a boaters club on the lake and they get together a few times a year and parade around the lake. Didn't know what the occasion was but when i saw santa on the bow of the first boat I thought "cute christmas in July, maybe they are promoting their christmas morning parade". Then my mom points the sign out to me "what's that sign say?" she asks me. "I don't know mom looks like maybe a phone number to me, 3-0- something" it still isn't hitting me. Then I recognize some of the people. "Hey that kind of looks like the Hadfields. Oh and that is your boat and there's Dave and the sign says happy 30th ye olde farte. And I'm guessing it's Cheri in the Santa suit." And boy was my face bright red. I was surprised AGAIN! They all came to shore and we had a great big bbq and even more friends stopped by and the ones who were out of town had gotten back into town and we had a blast. Thanks to all my dear friends and family and especially my sister for showing me just how much I really am loved. I won't forget!