Birthday Tales

I grew up in a little town on Lake Superior.  This time of year in Ashland is unbearable for those of us not happy about the winter’s snow and cold.  I much prefer warm breezes to blizzards.  Last year I was in Florida with my Mom and sister and nephews on this day.  I remember watching the waves crash on my birthday, it was beautiful.

Birthdays were a big deal when you were a kid.  I remember at Beaser Elementary, it got pretty exciting when someone’s Mom showed up with cupcakes or cookies to have an impromptu birthday party.  It’s always good to fill kids up on sugar, I love a good sugar buzz.

There is an old saying that goes “uneasy rests the head that holds the crown” and for me I guess it meant that any kind of celebration that put me at the center, was not going to end well.

For starters, I was at the boys table.  In kindergarten, we were seated by height.  I guess for a 5 year old I was tall because I was at the table right next to the teacher’s desk and I was the only girl at my table.  What a way to give a kid a complex, I felt so out of place.

It always seemed to me that I was not a very girlie girl.  I liked to run fast, ride my bike, go swimming, build leaf forts, etc.  I was not a little girl who wheeled her carriage with her baby dolls down the sidewalk.  I remember when my little sister was in the carriage.  I got a running start and pushed her and then watched her fly down the sidewalk, much to the horror of our housekeeper.  I thought it was funny, Clare didn’t seem to mind.

So there I was at the boy’s table in kindergarten.  I had to do all my schoolwork at that table, eat my snack at that table, etc.   The only break I got was at nap time.  We went alphabetical for that.

When March came around, I had already been in school for 7 months.  I was used to the boy’s table and pretty used to my teacher.  On my birthday I got a big surprise.  My Grampa Berg showed up (he was a milkman) and he knocked on the door and wheeled in ice cream for my whole class!!!

This was the most exciting thing that happened in class all year except for the time Sarah peed her pants when someone brought a puppy to show-n-tell.  It was my birthday and my Grampa was handing out ice cream.  Now all of those awful boys would see what a great person I am and all the girls will wish they were me.  I was having an almost perfect day....almost.

It was nearly time to leave school, only about 10 minutes more.  I was putting away my crayons when all of a sudden I didn’t feel very well.  I got really warm and then, I threw up all over my birthday dress (blue organdy).  I was really sick.  By the time I got home I had a really high temp and it turned out I got the mumps from one of those awful boys at my table.

To this day, I can only remember clearly the throwing up part, not the happy I had ice cream part.  I guess some folks are not meant to be the pretty dainty girl in a beautiful organdy dress.  I guess some girls are meant to throw up on the table and get really sick at their own party.

I’m 48 today.  Clare brought me cupcakes and pizza and her husband and kids.  It’s the best present I could ever have, a warm and loving family with two dogs to take care of the crumbs.  And so far, no one has thrown up, but Sammie peed on the floor.

Thanks for listening,

Anne

Comments

[Mary (Anne's sister)]

Anne- I don't remember this!

Those terrible boys! I would have sat you by some girls.
I'm one of those nice teachers.

Love you,
Sis