Julie did it first. And I filed it away for my birthday. Because I want more birthdays, for me, and you, and you, and you too. And because this year, this birthday, is my first birthday without my mother.If you're paying attention, you'll notice that it's four days after Christmas. Because I was born four days after Christmas, the vast majority of the people that I have known kind of lump Christmas and my birthday together - so yeah, I get gypped - a dearth of cards, a paucity of gifts. My mother, though, always remembered. She always set aside birthday presents, and wrapped them in non-Christmas wrapping. She knew - after all, she birthed me.
I'm not asking for gifts. I'm not even soliciting for the American Cancer Society, or any of the myriad organizations out there doing good work in cancer research. But I am asking you to stop and think, think of someone you know who died too soon, who didn't get more birthdays, because of cancer or for any other reason. That's present enough for me.
I know so many people who have died too soon...and quite a few have died from cancer. I'm thinking about them today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm thinking of my grandfather, who, if he were still alive, would be celebrating his 109th birthday today.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Maggie.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite uncle passed away a few years ago from colon cancer. He should have had many more birthdays.
Happy, Happy Birthday! You and I are bookends of 1960! Guess what that makes me next month? gah But on a positive note, I am going to run my first marathon next year in honor of what would have been my mother's 80th year -- if it weren't for lymphoma. I hate cancer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I'm remembering my friend B, who died of breast cancer nine years ago at age 33. She was passionately engaged with her life, unafraid, sometimes imprudent. She was the ying to my over-cautious yang. Even when we fought like sisters, she was an example. She inspires me still. And I can only imagine how much better the world would be if she was still in it.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, and may you have many many MANY more.
ReplyDeleteOh,mannnn. Thanks, Maggie. And happy birthday. This is a lovely idea for a post.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Happy birthday to you, and many more years of them I hope.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do get shafted, birthday-wise. Mine is in a couple of days, but it is less of an issue for Jews I think. (at least as a kid) Now I just demand champagne on my birthday.
Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteI wish I didn't have so many people to remember.
i went to schedule my chemo yesterday...and they're SO busy they didn't have an opening til the second week in January! That was scary to me.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, fellow Cap.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic idea. I may have to do something similar in a few days. I getcha on the combo-holiday b-day thing!
Happy birthday, darlin' - I am glad you were born into this world, and that I have the chance to get tangled up in your web on a regular (if electronic) basis.
ReplyDeleteMy Aunt D died of Cancer this past spring. I have a tattoo in her honor, composed of some of her favorite things. We weren't close, per se, but I was immensely fond of her.
Cancer sucks.
I believe we honor the dead by living...so I'm enjoying the sound of boys being boys (when they're supposed to be resting), music rolling through the house, sunlight pouring through the windows and spilling across the floor, and the sharp, pungent sweetness of ginger crisps on my tongue...alive, and (for a change) happy to be so.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
My mother died too soon. Her birthday would have been Thursday.
ReplyDeleteWishing you many blessings and a happy, happy day.
What a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you have a happy, happy birthday.
Mine was yesterday, so we have that shared Christmas-eque birthday. The plus side was never having school on the day.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of a good friend who passed away in October. She shared both my western and Chinese zodiac signs, and left us too soon.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! (I am singing right now, can you hear me? Cha Cha's and ALL!!!)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, lady writer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, lady writer.
ReplyDeletei think of my brother in law, and my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteand you. I think of you, and the many, many more birthdays I hope that you will have, and I mourn with you that you will no longer be sharing them with your mother.
{{{happy birthday}}}
ReplyDeleteI'm belated since I've been slacking on my blog reading this week, but I hope you had a great birthday and are looking forward to a very happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteMy mom died ten years ago this October, and we shared a birthday (in March). It's still kind of weird that it's just my birthday now.
I'm sorry I'm late to the birthday party! I'm just getting to my reader now after almost a week of travel. But I was so pleased that I got to bake you a birthday cupcake one year--it made my inner birthday fairy really happy.
ReplyDelete(My sister was born the day after Christmas and had the same problem, but my sister is...well...let's just say my sister isn't you, so my sister trained everyone who came in contact with her in how to approach her birthday correctly or face the consequences, which is not as pleasing to the inner birthday fairy.)
Also, this time of year I expect I will always be remembering Helen Hill, who died on January 4, 2007 without reaching her 37th birthday, but this year I'm also thinking of my high-school friend Sally who just found out she'll be able to count her remaining birthdays on one hand. I'm at the age now when the early deaths of my peers are starting, and I don't like it one bit.
ReplyDeleteI will think of someone for you...and for me. Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteI wish my list was shorter.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2010 to you.
Oooops! I came over too late!
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday! *hugs*
and
Happy New Year to you and your family!
*Smile*
Consider yourself gifted, and thanks for conjuring up the memory of some well loved people who left too early.
ReplyDeleteHappy (Anniversary of their) Birthday to them. Happy Birthday to us. Happy Birthday to you.
You
ReplyDeletethe biggest of hugs
birthday ones and otherwise.
Yes. I'm thinking.
xo
erin
i'm late to this...but happy birthday, and happy new year, and thank you for the reminder.
ReplyDeletebecause you reminded me to think of three of my four grandparents, all dead by 60 of cancer.
Aww, Maggie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY (again, and late, here) and thanks for declaring ACS the official sponsor of your birthday!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking, as always of the most recent losses: my friend Gina, and my inlaws Debbie and Cheryl.
I am thinking of people I care about -- like you -- who do have more birthdays.
And I'm celebrating.
Aw...happy (belated) birthday, even though I know it must be a toughie for you. I know how tough losing someone you love to the wretched C-word is. I lost my dad to a funky lymphoma a few years ago and life for me hasn't been the same since. Incidentally, his birthday was Dec. 28 so I also know what it's like for someone to get gypped with the whole x-mas/b-day thing. :-) Hang in there...and a happy, HEALTHY and fabulous 2010 to you!
ReplyDelete