MY BIRTHDAY IS THIS SUNDAY!

This will be my first birthday since the world is basically back fully open, so it will be tad strange for me. (But I was thrilled to recently discover that Princess Kate, whom I adore, is my fellow Capricorn! That new knowledge certainly cheered me up a bit. We classy ladies—well, one of us, anyway–have to stick together.)

Many years ago, one of my gal pals invited a few of her best friends to dinner to celebrate her b-day. I had been friends with her husband first, and I felt bad that he wasn’t doing anything special for her that year, instead of her having to not only spend it with us girls, but being the one to treat us!

When I asked why she wasn’t doing anything with him that night, she answered with one of the smartest things I had ever heard in this birthday category. She told me that she didn’t want the occasion to be anyone else’s responsibility! She said this way, she knows that someone will be there for her–in this case, us pals–and that she’ll have a nice birthday with no pain. I so respected her for that maturity, and took her message to heart.

So, after years of leaving it all up to Mr. X, and to my two boyfriends before him dating back to my teen-age years, and usually being at least a tad disappointed, (but rarely by Mr. X,) I finally started handling my own celebrations, usually by throwing myself one fabulous fete or another. Each one was different and special. (Mr. X totally helped with them; I just wanted the creations to come from me.)

And then, about a dozen years ago, because of close-to-my-bday very sad events, (like the death of my beloved little mo,) I just stopped doing them. Occasionally, friends came through for me, anyway, and I still had some happy-ish birthdays. And then came the pandemic.

So, it was back to Mr. X to make January 14th special for me. Which he has for these past three years. Actually, we had good ones a couple of times before Covid. Believe it or not, I’m a simple girl who is happy with a simple time, and just going out to dinner and a screening are enough to celebrate me. My choices for those simple celebrations were special because, outside of those birthdays, Mr. X has rarely ever come to screenings with me, and sitting in a restaurant is anathema to him.

Now here we are again, with my 2024 birthday coming up on Sunday. And can you guess what’s going to derail it this year?  Football play-offs, of course! And an awards show. Which leaves me no time to even accept phone calls that day! (But I’m hoping for lots of phone messages.) There are three important pigskin games on the 14th, followed by the Critics Choice awards. That would be a perfect day for me, in general, but not when it’s my birthday. I’m actually relieved it will be on a week-day next year!

That all means that January 14, 2024 will wind-up being kind of yin-and-yang for me. It will be a fun day at home, but with nothing birthday-esque happening for me, outside of our annual tradition that I hope Mr. X will do again for me—putting many fun and beautiful birthday cards all over the house, most with cash in them! I always tell him he doesn’t have to do that again, but I’m thrilled that, in this one instance, he does not listen to me!!!

So I think I’ll defer my celebration until the end of the month, when Mr. X will be coming with me to the opening of Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet at the Ahmanson, an event I’m awaiting with bated breath. And since we have to vote for the Screen Actors Guild Awards in about six weeks, I’ll count any screening or events for it that he comes to with me as in my “things he did for my birthday” column.

By the way, I’m not complaining, not even one little bit. I’m rather just reporting. Believe me, I am always grateful for another year of life! Every day!

So here we are. As usual, there are few material gifts necessary this year. The only things in life I crave are services, such as massages, facials, and mani-pedis; great meals, especially afternoon tea; and being taken to fun events, such as a show or concert.

But, outside of those, there is always an absolute lovely, easy, and free way for everyone to help me celebrate! And that is to follow me on any and all of my social media platforms, if you don’t already.  I always appreciate the support.

Here’s all the info you need to do that:

X, (formerly) Twitter: @MajorCelebrity
Facebook Fan Page: It’s Not About Me TV
Instagram: majorcelebrity
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCF7mwI2jwcB2xB9dBCBxLZg

And just in case no one else does, I’m wishing myself a very Happy Birthday right now, these two days in advance. Someone has to get the ball rolling, so it might as well be me!