It's my birthday!

Today is my birthday. I'm 56. FIFTY SIX. So that means I've had a whole bunch of birthdays. I've had some really bad ones -- for example, my 20th birthday -- I was supposed to go out with 3 friends: one got sick, one had to work, and the 3rd forgot. The one that forget felt horrible and  scrambled up some plans for us, and while we were out my car was broken into and our purses stolen.  And I've had some fantastic ones: my 40th when I sort of maybe bullied a friend into letting me use her lake house for my party, and I maybe sort of bullied my husband into working his butt off to ensure that everything was exactly the way I wanted. And my 50th when my husband and son pulled off a surprise birthday party and my son got me Springsteen -- SPRINGSTEEN!  -- tickets.   But I've mostly had mediocre birthdays that leave me feeling a little bit melancholy about getting older.

I am a birthday brat. I really want a crown and a parade and a cake and to feel freaking special all day. Is there something wrong with that?  Well, my poor husband doesn't get it, and I can tell that every August he gets that panicky look in his eyes that translates like this:  "oh shit. her birthday is almost here and I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.".

Today went nothing like it was supposed to. It was supposed to be a day off leading to a 3 day weekend.. Instead, it's a ONE day weekend, because I ended up going to work today, AND I have to drive 4 hours on Sunday to be at a Monday morning 9 am meeting in another state.  But here's how my birthday went:

• I went to work about an hour late, so I got some extra sleep this morning. 
• When I got to work, there was a gift on my desk and some cards from co workers.
• I finished everything by about 1:30, and I left, took myself out to lunch, and bought myself some goodies at Ulta.
• I got a massage. And, when I went to pay, I was told that my bill had been taken care of by another coworker.  (I don't even know how she knew where I was!!)
• I had about 50 billion texts, calls, and/or facebook messages from friends.  
• My son came over with my 2 sweet grandsons, who had homemade birthday cards and a balloon!  And hugs!!!!
• my husband cooked a yummy family dinner, and cleaned up a big old mess afterwards.  
• We had a store-bought cake with candles, and everyone sang, and Owen blew out the candles, and we had to re-light the candles  and sing again so that Carson could blow out the candles.
• And when they left, they each gave me a really big hug -- not just the kids, my son too! -- and said that they loved me.  

So. I don't need a crown. Or a parade. Cake's fine but I don't have to have it. Parties are great but not necessary. This birthday included none of those things (well, OK, I had cake).  And I'll be darned if it wasn't awesome!