Shall We Say Merry Birthday?

Losing someone to death during the holidays may be the worst unfortunate event one can ever experience, but I'd say having your birthday during or around the holidays comes close second. I should know this. My birthday is (3) three days before Christmas. And I tell you now. It ain't fun at all. No not at all.

Let me tell you the un-fun reasons why:

• 2-in-1 gifts - Imagine getting only one gift for your birthday and Christmas. Cool? I think not.
• Birthday presents wrapped in Christmas wrappers - Nothing can be more annoying than seeing your presents wrapped in Christmas-inspired wrappers each year. They get old pretty quick!
• 2-in-1 party - Having your party celebrated on the day of a major holiday like Christmas to consolidate budget and time is cheating you from celebrating your special day ON YOUR special day. 
• Christmas cards doubles as birthday cards - 'Nuff said.
• You get Christmas-inspired birthday presents.
• Your Birthday gets overshadowed by Christmas every year.
• Your birthday gets missed 50% of the time because of Christmas. Even your Mom forgets once in a while.

I can go on and on and on. I know it sound really bad, but in all honesty it is rather annoying more than anything else. To not be able to celebrate a "normal" birthday each year is a real bummer.

I remember one year, I hid from my own birthday party. While everyone was busy celebrating MY birthday, I went MIA. I just got tired of celebrating a birthday/Christmas party together. It didn't feel like my birthday party at all and I was not in the mood to party, so what does one do? Leave the party. That's what I did anyway.

I will not tell you that the party ended up into a hide-and-seek game. 

Major fast forward. 

My birthday is coming up yet again. But I no longer celebrate my birthday by choice. Though my little family insists that I do. My husband makes it a point to bake me a cake every year and we always have a party of three every year just because. 

The Bright Side.

In honor of no longer celebrating my birthday, I decided to "celebrate" two consecutive years of my birthday by celebrating the lives of homeless children in my community through a toy drive. It was very rewarding and definitely made my birthday that much more meaningful and special. One that I hope to continue doing when given the chance.

Now with all that I've said, if you're in the same shoes as I'm, I'm so sorry for you. I feel your pain. In honor of this Christmas/Birthday or Birthday/Christmas, here's one very appropriate greeting for you and me, "Merry Birthday!"