Birthdays

During this time of COVID, there are many people that are finding that they are forced to celebrate their birthdays in very different ways than they have in the past.  The creativity of trying to provide some small amount of normalcy to these celebrations have been seen all over, and often posted on social media!

David

For an adult, this adjustment is probably not too hard to handle.  David’s birthday was in early April and as long as he got his Heath Candy Bar Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting Angel Food Cake….all was good! (Pictures of not the actual cake that was consumed on his birthday…but close…LOL)  (He has this same cake EVERY year!!!)

A couple of days after David’s birthday, it was Erin’s 14th birthday!  Erin is the creative one in the family.  Last year she planned her whole party, with arts and crafts, gift bags, a great time for all attendees!!  (She has a boat load of friends!!)  But this year, there was no planning any real parties, which can be disappointing, but certainly something a 14 year old understands.

Erin

That day, Saturday, the 11th, her mom told her she needed to go outside in the driveway and do a couple of chores.  You can already imagine the small amount of grumbling that came from this birthday girl….even doing chores on a regular day would generate some amount of grumbling, but chores on your BIRTHDAY!!!  Little did she know that she was going to have a surprise -mini-birthday in her Aunts and Uncles coming to visit her, give her some gifts all at a safe distance.  We even got to “attend” the party — we are facetiming on our daughter’s phone set up on the orange Home Depot Bucket!

This will definitely be a birthday that Erin will remember…and she certainly understands the reason for the low key celebration.

Luke

But I am not sure kids completely understand the change in celebrations this year, if their birthday lands during this challenging time.  One of those “kids” is a great young man, Luke, who is the son of my favorite southern friend from Tennessee, Ashley!  The family is trying its best to be creative tomorrow, and will include drive by birthday wishes.  Ashley indicated that people could send Luke videos to wish him happy birthday, but I thought one from me would probably just make him wonder “who is this strange woman that my mom knows!!”  So instead, I wanted to hopefully honor Luke, and his family, with my way, with my words.  Ashley, Kevin and Hannah — I know you will make this day very special for Luke and it will be something Luke will remember for many years!!  As a family, you are so creative in thinking beyond the theme parties of the past, to make the day even more special for Luke.  I know he may not understand this whole different type of celebration, but it is the love of his family that makes this day his own.  Happy 6th Birthday, Luke!!!  I know you will have a fantastic day and if we lived closer we would be beeping our birthday wish to you as we drove by!!  Have the best birthday ever, dear Luke!!

TIFN