I love all my birthdays, but one of my favorites was the one where I had a bunch of friends over, provided drinks (both alcoholic and non, including fresh pressed ginger and lemon I made myself, and chocolate milk for the one kid I could stand) ordered in whatever anyone wanted from a really good Chinese restaurant, ate off disposable plates, had a nice time, and then at the end of the evening, we all took out the trash on our way out to a bar, from which I snuck home when I'd had enough! I try to replicate this birthday experience whenever I have a party -- easy dinner somewhere that I pay for (and not drive myself crazy preparing), then drinks outside of my home so I don't have to worry about getting people out of there, so I can come home to a nice clean place and go to sleep happy.
So happy to have met you at your reading in LA. I wish you the best birthday ever. I think my most memorable birthday was the only time I had a surprise party. I was turning 37. My best friend and boyfriend planned it together, which was sweet. Problem was, I was about to break up with my boyfriend of 3 years. Apparently he had no idea. Of course my best friend knew, and told me later how worried she was about planning the party. Would I be mad at her? Would I cry? But her worries were unfounded. It was a great night and I held off the breakup for a few more days. And funny enough, my boyfriend invited my future husband, who unwittingly gave me my favorite birthday present. He didn’t know me well but knew I loved trees and gave me a beautiful book about sequoias. We all got very drunk.
I had a really good birthday the day I turned 60. I got a phone call that afternoon offering me this full time job that I really wanted. That evening I was meeting some friends for dinner in a restaurant in the Village. I walked into the restaurant screaming “ I got the job. I got the job.”
Happy Birthday, Sari! I hope you have a fabulous day. My birthday is in August. I got used to celebrating it with family when I was younger since my friends were mostly out of town for the summer. To make it special, my mother used to go uptown (Manhattan) to buy me a chocolate candy cake, which was basically fresh whipped cream with a few layers of chocolate cake topped with shavings for fresh chocolate. This took effort since she worked full time, and I always felt special when that cake showed up. Best cake ever. I still keep birthday celebrations small, with family or a few friends. And my last cake was chocolate but vegan--I don't think I could stomach all that cream and chocolate now.
My best birthday, I think, was my 16th, also a surprise. I was working Saturday morning on the high school drama crew, painting. I got permission to go leave for lunch and after, and went to my friend Cecily's house, where she surprised me with the party. She even had a Snoopy cake. Those were innocent days, when a 16-year-old could be happy with a Snoopy cake. The other memorable one was a combined 120th birthday with my friend Barbara, whose birthday is one day before mine. We met in pre-nursery school. Both of these parties were in Houston, where I grew up, and which I left after high school. I'm so glad I left Texas, but my roots go deep.
I was on a press trip in Portugal visiting the venerable Port houses in Porto and during a tour of the cellar through casks of vintage port, it got out that it was my birthday—and the cellar master asked what year? I will pour you a glass of your vintage.
And that’s when my dilemma arose. Do I tell my real age and get an awesome vintage of Port or prolong the charade about my age. I look/looked young for my age and most people thought I was 38-40 when I was actually 52. So thought about it for a moment and then thought fuck it —When will I get this chance again so I said my vintage is 1959. And everyone laughed. No really what year the cellar master asked again. Really 1959, I said. You wanna see my passport?
So I got to taste my birth year vintage and a lot of scrutiny from the rest of the group.
My most memorable birthday was my 37th. My husband had died unexpectedly two months earlier from colon cancer complications. Our children were four and two and I was doing everything to make my journey a “good” grief trip. So on this first birthday without him, I met my oldest girl friend for a fabulous meal near Lincoln Center and then we saw Susan Stroman’s show, Contact. My husband used to own a Broadway Scene shop so seeing a musical, I felt close to him. When I arrived home, close to midnight, sitting on our pink marble dining room table was a FedEx envelope from the insurance company. It was the payout for his life insurance policy. We were $40,000 in debt when he died. I was so thankful that my husband had put life insurance in place after our second child was born. It was a bittersweet birthday present that felt like it was delivered directly from heaven from him on my day.
So nice to see others who treat their Birthdays like sacred days. I too have been let down on some birthdays and have learned that the best way to secure the happiness of the day is to plan it yourself. Besides- it takes the stress from others (mainly my husband)
My most memorable-
Turning 50!!! (Prior to the pandemic)
My Birthday is late October. I decided to throw my own large shindig. I ordered bulk masks and capes- I mailed them with each invitation- the caption read
“There is a hero in all of us- you just need the courage to put on the cape!”
I was not let down- creativity is amazing.
As you know- birthing is my business- we all need to celebrate that glorious day. Cheers to you today!
I love your Substack! My chaotic childhood (alcoholic dad) left little growing in the happy childhood memory garden, but he celebrated random milestones. One was my 16th birthday in 1980. He surprised me with a 1976 Ford Pinto. Tri-colored for conflicting eye-witness reports. It became the essence of freedom for my adolescent years, along with Mark and Richard, hi school buddies that are now both gone - RIP.
Happy happy birthday. You're a force. Thank you for all you do. Wishing you joy and health. My ritual has been to acknowledge the 5s and Os with some kind of challenge. For example, at 50 I got a horse, at 55 did a century bike ride. And so on. All the best to you!
Happy birthday! My birthday, January 3rd, is unfortunately timed. Everyone is still broke from Christmas and/or Hanukkah, hung over from New Years, and generally partied out after the holiday season. Also, the weather is often atrocious. So, much as I’d love to have a dinner party and play parlor games, I mostly just manage a nice meal out and call it good.
My best ever birthday was my 25th. I was in Havana with my bestest friend and there were mojitos, Cuban cigars (which, admittedly, I took one puff of and felt nauseous), live Afro-Cuban music, and showgirls. What an adventure!
I hear you about those ill-timed birthdays. Mine is on Halloween, and I always hated it because everyone wanted to go trick or treating instead of celebrate my birthday. I got over that when I had grandchildren, they make everything fun again!
Happy birthday, Sari!!! May it be a beautiful year for you, of wishes come true. Among the best presents for me is a first edition copy of THE WAVES, an extravagant gift from my mother for my 40th birthday, which I keep in view at my desk, which still feels like a benediction, her way of saying, “I see you.”
Tanti Auguri! I hope you have a wonderful celebration. My birthday is next week and I hope to be on my beloved island of Ponza also eating pizza and planning a hike on a nearby uninhabited island. That would be my best birthday.
When I turning 60 I decided to follow one of my musical favorites Brandi Carlile on a music cruise. Best vacation of my life. Seven days of concerts on board a ship with solid music fans and cut up fruits.
The best birthday I ever had was, hands down, last year when I turned 64 (Dec. 10)! Now mind, I am a young 64 in both body, mind and spirit! No one can guess my age and few people who know me, think of me as 64, including my family. But here's what happened. On the morning of Dec. 6, 2021, while sitting in my pajamas sipping coffee and watching the news, I suffered a classic all out heart attack. And not just a little heart attack! Even the EMT's didn't believe that me, a petite, young looking female was having a heart attack, and hence they took their sweet time getting me to the ER. But no sooner did technicians in ER connect me to an EKG, they disconnected me and rushed me into the Cath Lab where a stent was put into my LAD, the artery known as "The Widow Maker." Had it happened when I was out hiking just 2 days earlier or was planning to the following day, I wouldn't have made it to my 64th Birthday. Not even my doctors could believe it. I was released from the hospital just one day before my Birthday, exhausted, scared, relieved, confused. But by the end of that first evening at home, all 3 of our children, their spouses and grandchildren arrived on our doorstep from out-of-state (4 as far as California) to help celebrate my birthday the next day. Imagine my shock as they walked through the door. I thought I might have another heart attack! It was a low-key but joyful celebration. They took care of all the details, along with my husband, who was in on the surprise. They even brought my 91 year old mother over to the house from her assisted living facility to join in the candle blowing and cake eating. I've since made a full recovery of my heart and I am back to my hiking and biking without restrictions. What a gift to have another glorious year of life, with promise of many more to come! (I wrote about it in an essay, which I read at a local Rochester Spoken Word Speak Easy last March. I'm happy to share it with you if you like!)
Welcome to my age! :)
I love all my birthdays, but one of my favorites was the one where I had a bunch of friends over, provided drinks (both alcoholic and non, including fresh pressed ginger and lemon I made myself, and chocolate milk for the one kid I could stand) ordered in whatever anyone wanted from a really good Chinese restaurant, ate off disposable plates, had a nice time, and then at the end of the evening, we all took out the trash on our way out to a bar, from which I snuck home when I'd had enough! I try to replicate this birthday experience whenever I have a party -- easy dinner somewhere that I pay for (and not drive myself crazy preparing), then drinks outside of my home so I don't have to worry about getting people out of there, so I can come home to a nice clean place and go to sleep happy.
Love it! Thank you!
Happy Birthday Sari!!!
So happy to have met you at your reading in LA. I wish you the best birthday ever. I think my most memorable birthday was the only time I had a surprise party. I was turning 37. My best friend and boyfriend planned it together, which was sweet. Problem was, I was about to break up with my boyfriend of 3 years. Apparently he had no idea. Of course my best friend knew, and told me later how worried she was about planning the party. Would I be mad at her? Would I cry? But her worries were unfounded. It was a great night and I held off the breakup for a few more days. And funny enough, my boyfriend invited my future husband, who unwittingly gave me my favorite birthday present. He didn’t know me well but knew I loved trees and gave me a beautiful book about sequoias. We all got very drunk.
Ann, it was so nice meeting you at my event in LA! This is the best story. I love how it all played out for the best. <3
Happy Birthday, Sari.
I had a really good birthday the day I turned 60. I got a phone call that afternoon offering me this full time job that I really wanted. That evening I was meeting some friends for dinner in a restaurant in the Village. I walked into the restaurant screaming “ I got the job. I got the job.”
Happy Birthday, Sari! I hope you have a fabulous day. My birthday is in August. I got used to celebrating it with family when I was younger since my friends were mostly out of town for the summer. To make it special, my mother used to go uptown (Manhattan) to buy me a chocolate candy cake, which was basically fresh whipped cream with a few layers of chocolate cake topped with shavings for fresh chocolate. This took effort since she worked full time, and I always felt special when that cake showed up. Best cake ever. I still keep birthday celebrations small, with family or a few friends. And my last cake was chocolate but vegan--I don't think I could stomach all that cream and chocolate now.
My best birthday, I think, was my 16th, also a surprise. I was working Saturday morning on the high school drama crew, painting. I got permission to go leave for lunch and after, and went to my friend Cecily's house, where she surprised me with the party. She even had a Snoopy cake. Those were innocent days, when a 16-year-old could be happy with a Snoopy cake. The other memorable one was a combined 120th birthday with my friend Barbara, whose birthday is one day before mine. We met in pre-nursery school. Both of these parties were in Houston, where I grew up, and which I left after high school. I'm so glad I left Texas, but my roots go deep.
Happy Birthday Sari!
Most Memorable Birthday gift was when
I was on a press trip in Portugal visiting the venerable Port houses in Porto and during a tour of the cellar through casks of vintage port, it got out that it was my birthday—and the cellar master asked what year? I will pour you a glass of your vintage.
And that’s when my dilemma arose. Do I tell my real age and get an awesome vintage of Port or prolong the charade about my age. I look/looked young for my age and most people thought I was 38-40 when I was actually 52. So thought about it for a moment and then thought fuck it —When will I get this chance again so I said my vintage is 1959. And everyone laughed. No really what year the cellar master asked again. Really 1959, I said. You wanna see my passport?
So I got to taste my birth year vintage and a lot of scrutiny from the rest of the group.
Happy Birthday Sari! 🎂🎈🎉
My most memorable birthday was my 37th. My husband had died unexpectedly two months earlier from colon cancer complications. Our children were four and two and I was doing everything to make my journey a “good” grief trip. So on this first birthday without him, I met my oldest girl friend for a fabulous meal near Lincoln Center and then we saw Susan Stroman’s show, Contact. My husband used to own a Broadway Scene shop so seeing a musical, I felt close to him. When I arrived home, close to midnight, sitting on our pink marble dining room table was a FedEx envelope from the insurance company. It was the payout for his life insurance policy. We were $40,000 in debt when he died. I was so thankful that my husband had put life insurance in place after our second child was born. It was a bittersweet birthday present that felt like it was delivered directly from heaven from him on my day.
Happy singing Sari!
Hi Sari- Happy Birthday my Friend!
So nice to see others who treat their Birthdays like sacred days. I too have been let down on some birthdays and have learned that the best way to secure the happiness of the day is to plan it yourself. Besides- it takes the stress from others (mainly my husband)
My most memorable-
Turning 50!!! (Prior to the pandemic)
My Birthday is late October. I decided to throw my own large shindig. I ordered bulk masks and capes- I mailed them with each invitation- the caption read
“There is a hero in all of us- you just need the courage to put on the cape!”
I was not let down- creativity is amazing.
As you know- birthing is my business- we all need to celebrate that glorious day. Cheers to you today!
PS Happy much belated 50th! (Maybe you are now 52 or 53? The pandemic has been a time warp...)
Thank you, Christine, my friend!!!! <3
I love your Substack! My chaotic childhood (alcoholic dad) left little growing in the happy childhood memory garden, but he celebrated random milestones. One was my 16th birthday in 1980. He surprised me with a 1976 Ford Pinto. Tri-colored for conflicting eye-witness reports. It became the essence of freedom for my adolescent years, along with Mark and Richard, hi school buddies that are now both gone - RIP.
What a pleasant memory on a sleepy Sunday - Ric
Happy happy birthday. You're a force. Thank you for all you do. Wishing you joy and health. My ritual has been to acknowledge the 5s and Os with some kind of challenge. For example, at 50 I got a horse, at 55 did a century bike ride. And so on. All the best to you!
Happy birthday! My birthday, January 3rd, is unfortunately timed. Everyone is still broke from Christmas and/or Hanukkah, hung over from New Years, and generally partied out after the holiday season. Also, the weather is often atrocious. So, much as I’d love to have a dinner party and play parlor games, I mostly just manage a nice meal out and call it good.
My best ever birthday was my 25th. I was in Havana with my bestest friend and there were mojitos, Cuban cigars (which, admittedly, I took one puff of and felt nauseous), live Afro-Cuban music, and showgirls. What an adventure!
All but the Cuban cigars sound awesome! Here's hoping you will one day have an even better birthday than your 25th!
I hear you about those ill-timed birthdays. Mine is on Halloween, and I always hated it because everyone wanted to go trick or treating instead of celebrate my birthday. I got over that when I had grandchildren, they make everything fun again!
Sounds like a great time! Thank you for the birthday wishes, Asha!
Happy birthday, Sari!!! May it be a beautiful year for you, of wishes come true. Among the best presents for me is a first edition copy of THE WAVES, an extravagant gift from my mother for my 40th birthday, which I keep in view at my desk, which still feels like a benediction, her way of saying, “I see you.”
Happy birthday, Sari!
I was born on Inauguration Day (20 Jan) -- every four years my parents let me stay home and watch the ceremonies on TV. I still do it today.
Tanti Auguri! I hope you have a wonderful celebration. My birthday is next week and I hope to be on my beloved island of Ponza also eating pizza and planning a hike on a nearby uninhabited island. That would be my best birthday.
Thank you! Happy almost birthday to you!
When I turning 60 I decided to follow one of my musical favorites Brandi Carlile on a music cruise. Best vacation of my life. Seven days of concerts on board a ship with solid music fans and cut up fruits.
The best birthday I ever had was, hands down, last year when I turned 64 (Dec. 10)! Now mind, I am a young 64 in both body, mind and spirit! No one can guess my age and few people who know me, think of me as 64, including my family. But here's what happened. On the morning of Dec. 6, 2021, while sitting in my pajamas sipping coffee and watching the news, I suffered a classic all out heart attack. And not just a little heart attack! Even the EMT's didn't believe that me, a petite, young looking female was having a heart attack, and hence they took their sweet time getting me to the ER. But no sooner did technicians in ER connect me to an EKG, they disconnected me and rushed me into the Cath Lab where a stent was put into my LAD, the artery known as "The Widow Maker." Had it happened when I was out hiking just 2 days earlier or was planning to the following day, I wouldn't have made it to my 64th Birthday. Not even my doctors could believe it. I was released from the hospital just one day before my Birthday, exhausted, scared, relieved, confused. But by the end of that first evening at home, all 3 of our children, their spouses and grandchildren arrived on our doorstep from out-of-state (4 as far as California) to help celebrate my birthday the next day. Imagine my shock as they walked through the door. I thought I might have another heart attack! It was a low-key but joyful celebration. They took care of all the details, along with my husband, who was in on the surprise. They even brought my 91 year old mother over to the house from her assisted living facility to join in the candle blowing and cake eating. I've since made a full recovery of my heart and I am back to my hiking and biking without restrictions. What a gift to have another glorious year of life, with promise of many more to come! (I wrote about it in an essay, which I read at a local Rochester Spoken Word Speak Easy last March. I'm happy to share it with you if you like!)