Forever Young

They say that only death and taxes are certain but without getting into politics, I would claim that there is a third thing available as long as we each are alive - birthdays. We can make claims to the contrary as regards the number or the date, but the truth still prevails.  

My lovely wife has long held the belief that her birthday is her business and hers only. We all know the fallacy of that position with the multitudes of required signatures and birthdates needed for federal forms, hospital forms and applications for virtually anything else. 

She has often baffled questioners by giving only the month and the date when asked so that they don’t do the math and compute her age. 

We celebrate Jeannie's birthday as boldly as she will allow but always with purposeful intent and love for this remarkable lady. Her special birthdays are slightly more celebrated than those in between (as per her request), but there have been notable exceptions - her 16th specifically. We obviously go back a long way.  

This was the first of her birthdays we celebrated together, having started going steady in late December 1963. She had not had the chance to explain her position on birthdays and parties at that point. I was happy that her special day fell on Sunday that year because she turned “Sweet 16.” It allowed for a party with our good friends after youth group on Sunday evening, so I had someone get her cake and had it brought to the house where we met so she wouldn't know till we all got together. 

Christmas past allowed me to get her very first charm bracelet. And, for her April birthday following, I found her first special charm to christen the bracelet - a cash register with a drawer that opened revealing my heart. 

Now I had no idea the damage I had done to this very shy, beautiful, young lady by exposing her to such a large spotlight of attention that included the comedy of opening multiple boxes one inside the next, each one wrapped but smaller than the next, until she reached wit’s end and finally revealed the gift. 

She was such an incredibly lovely mix of expressions and emotions ranging from anger to laughter, to tears and sweetness. 

Over the years I have attempted to replicate that first birthday celebration with a modicum of success, but always with the knowledge that she would be as gracious and thankful as she was at 16. 

The time and place, the number of guests, and the size and value of the gifts were different as befit the birthday being counted, but our joy and love were always the same - knowing that we were with those we loved, sharing that love and being thankful for the opportunity. 

So... happy birthday my little calendar girl.  

You'll always be my “Sweet 16.”  

Love always, David