12.11

Today is a friend's birthday.

Somehow though, "friend" seems just a wee bit inadequate.

We met in 1984.

I was a freshman in high school and he was a senior. Way to cool to give me the time of day or even look my way. Every now & then we'd pass each other in the hallway, he'd give me the "what's up" nod, and we'd be on our way.

Time went by. He graduated and we met up again 2 years later.

Two years after that we had a home together.

Two years after that we had a child.

Three years later, another.

Five years after that...one more. Our last.

Twelve years later, here we are.

The road hasn't been the easiest for the two of us. There've been many bumps. All in all though, there've been far more smooth patches than rough if you really had to weigh the two.

And today is his birthday.

When we met he didn't really celebrate his birthday. WHAT? That's right. Not that he didn't find his birthday to be a special day, but being born 2 weeks before Christmas meant that his childhood birthdays were always combined WITH Christmas. That was...until he met me.

According to my calendar, December 11th and December 25th are two TOTALLY separate days. So why should they be celebrated together. They shouldn't be.

The first year that he and I were in our own home together was the first year that the tradition of me making him a birthday cake began. Chocolate cake with Chocolate frosting. His favorite.

I'm not any fancy pastry chef or anything even remotely close. No, my cakes are from a box. But everytime he eats one he makes me feel like it was flown in from wherever fancy cakes come from.

And so, I will make a cake on his birthday for as long God allows me to.

Yes, at some point later on today I'll find myself cracking eggs, mixing cake batter & opening a can of chocolate frosting. And I'll enjoy every step in the process. Everybody should feel special on their birthday, regardless of how close it is to Christmas. This is my way of letting my "friend" know that HIS special day is important too.

Let the DIALOGUE begin! Are you born in December? If so, were your birthdays combined with Christmas when you were a child or were the days celebrated separately?

Talk to me!

Til next time...