How do you celebrate your birthday?

my mom's cakes never looked this pretty - birthday cake
@KATRINKA (1624)
United States
May 3, 2008 4:38pm CST
Today is my birthday. I'm keeping it low-key, catching up on housework and personal business. My sweetheart had a bouquet of roses delivered to the house this morning, and I've been finding notes and cards all over the house, though I've begged him for weeks to not acknowledge my birthday. When I was a little girl, my mom planned elaborate birthday parties for me. She made up the guest list and decided on the menu and activities. We had Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and dispensed Kool Aid from a mini keg. She was the center of attention. After she left us, my dad always ordered a birthday cake from a local bakery. He wasn't always around to cut the cake or share a piece together. It was his way of acknowledging my birthday, at least. How do you celebrate your birthday? What are your favorite birthday memories?
3 people like this
25 responses
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
3 May 08
Happy Birthday to you, even though you want to keep it low key. I'm pretty low key because no one's planned a part for me. I had a surpise part once, when I was in high school and the guy I was seeing planned it because he found out that I'd never had a surprise party before. It was sweet and thoughtful. Now they're pretty boring. We go out to dinner and he always finds a way to get them to come out singing happy birthday. This year (April 17th is my birthday) he had them do it and I wasn't prepared so they ended up scaring me. It was great fun.
2 people like this
• United States
4 May 08
I do understand that you are trying to keep your birthday celebrations low key. I know that you trying to get some of the work done. So anyways, happy birthday. Maybe you will run into a very big surprise party.
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
dmillman and jakesnake, Thank you for your birthday wishes. I do appreciate them. I did end up getting surprised for my birthday and receiving some very extravagant gifts. Happy belated birthday dmillman!
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
10 May 08
Thank you for the belated birthday wish katrinka!!!
• United States
3 May 08
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Well I didn't have elaborate parties like you did^_^. But I just had a quiet celebration with my family. Except for my fifthteen birthday. In spanish culture we always celebrate our fifthteen birthday like a sweet 16. It was a lot of people but most of them were friends of mom. It kind of sucked because I didn't know anyone although one lady gave me a $20 bill. But the food was good and all i did that night was be on my computer and play and stuff while these old people that I didn't know danced. After that I don't really like to have a big birthday.
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you for your birthday wishes! I'm glad the food was good at the party. What type of food was served? Was there birthday cake as well? Pretty cool about receiving $20. Thanks for your response.
• United States
9 May 08
Yeah the food was really good. Some people bought food over and my mother cooked some. Most of it was Spanish food. And since my mother is a baker she made the cake and it tasted so good.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
3 May 08
i generally dont do much on my birthday, to me, its just really a date and if we dont celebrate on that day, it doesnt matter to me. we usually go out to dinner around the time of my day...
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you. What are your favorite birthday memories?
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
3 May 08
I don't celebrate my birthday anymore. I usually get a card and some money from my mom and my aunt and my husband has me pick out what I want him to get me. I remember when I was little and I had a party at McDonalds that was really fun.
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
I remember those McDonalds parties. I never had one myself, but I did attend some for my friends' birthdays.
@pooh08 (671)
• Vietnam
4 May 08
This year, maybe I don't celebrate my birthday. Because this year, I have to worry about my graduate and looking for the job. I'm too busy. Every years, I used to celebrate my birthday with my close friends. It only meet and chatting with others. I'm only celebrate simple because now I'm a adult, not child.
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
I wish you all the best.
4 May 08
Happy birthday. For me, I do not like to make a big deal out of my birthday. I just bring couple friends over to my house and watch a movie on the big screen.
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you for your birthday wishes. Friends and movies sounds like a cozy birthday to me!
@munhozmib (3837)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
4 May 08
Hello, Katrinka! Happy Birthday to you! I wish you a lot of happiness and joy in this day, because it is such a special date for you! Well, I usually do not celebrate my birthday. My mother/father/brother says Happy Birthday and they give me a gift, and that's all. No parties, no such things... This year I'm going to be 16, and I expect nothing. It's good that I'm one year more in this world and I'm glad for it. THerefore, I'll work hard to make my time here valuable for me and for others. Respectfully, Munhozmib.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you very much! I wish the same for you. You sound like such a good boy. Best wishes...
@egortizv (225)
• United States
4 May 08
I have always loved my birthday, but I've never been in to an elaborate celebration and i don't tell people unless hey ask find out. I keep it on the down-low. However, i do have some great memories. I remember when i was little, one of my cakes was an ENORMOUS Disney castle with all the characters around it. My dad and some other family members put it together. I also had a guitar shaped cake which was pretty cool. As i got older, i just went out to the dinner with the family to longhorn's, steak&shake, roadhouse grill, or any other simple, non-fancy eatery. But there is always cake! Its my favorite part about birthdays. Chacolate, ice cream, vanilla, any flavor ^___^
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Your castle cake sounds wonderful! What a terrific gift! Cake is my favorite part about birthdays, too!
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
4 May 08
Happy Birthday =D I like to have a kind of low-key day in the sense that I don't have a party where people other than my immediate family come to, and I don't expect gifts or anything like that. I like to make dinner, or have dinner made and just have a family dinner after a normal kind of day. My last birthday was the first since my boyfriend and I have been going out (although we've been friends for a few years), and we had a great time together, we actually went to a music festival that was held on my birthday and we got to be anonymous and listen to fantastic music =D
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
That sounds like a wonderful time! My boyfriend and I have recently started going out, but I've known him for 30 years. He's my best friend, my everything, and he really made a fuss over my birthday.
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
9 May 08
Aww, that's so great =D My boyfriend and I were friends for about 2 years before starting to go out almost a year ago =) I'm glad that he made a fuss over you - I bet you loved it =P
@anawar (2404)
• United States
4 May 08
Happy Bithday low key girl. I like low key birthdays as well. Yesterday was my birthday and I live with my daughter-in-law while my son is in Iraq. She knows I ignore my birthday whenever possible, but she hooked me up last night, girl style. We saw a crummy movie on post and laughed about it all the way to Papa John's. We came home and ate a fantastic pizza. We topped it off with brownies and ice cream. Oh, and she bought me one of those cards that sing when you open them. My family was very private so there were very few kid parties. Sometimes my cousins were invited. My best memory is the year I got my first pair of roller skates. You know, the kind with the key? How lame is that? We always got cakes from the bakery, and the birthday person got first pick of the sticky sweet roses that always came with the cake. I remember my mom's birthday, because my dad gave my mom a beautiful emerald and diamond bracelet. It was so expensive_ he gave her one link every birthday and every Christmas.
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Happy Birthday! Your post made me cry. What a sweet, thoughtful daughter-in-law you have. And your dad...(sigh) it's just beautiful! Thank your son for me. I appreciate so much what the soldiers are doing for us. I hope he comes home to you safe and healthy. {{HUGS}}
• India
4 May 08
hi friends, if i am in the house on my birthday, we will celebrate it. my mother will make some sweets and i will cut a cake.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Vinubaby, thanks for the birthday wishes. I love sweets, too! Metal, At least you're honest! LOL!
• India
4 May 08
sorry, forgot to wish you... HAPPY BIRTHDAY..
1 person likes this
• United States
4 May 08
not to be selfish but i really never cared about where I went on my birthday, I only cared about what I got..lol, I barely get things that I want and my friends basically do nothing but get wonderful gifts...So my birthday and christmas is the only time where i have a chance of getting something...
• United States
5 May 08
Happy Birthday. When i was growing up my mom always made our b-day cake for me and my sister. If we had a party it was family and close friends. Whenever my b-day rolls around my husband takes me out to dinner and that is just about it. I like it that way. When my husbands b-day rolls around we go out to dinner and when the boys b-day comes around we plan a party but we invite family and close friends. So they have a lot of friends that come.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you!
3 May 08
Happy Birthday.I've always keep a low-key on my birthday because since my childhood I celebrated just with my family.But I make it a point that I cut a cake every year even if there is no one to acknowledge my birthday.
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
What's your favorite cake?
• United States
3 May 08
Well Happy Birthday I hope it was a good one. I used to have nice b-day's when I was younger but now it's like when it comes around noone cares I've grown used to it so I useally just celabrate by doing things by myself like buying something for myself and just makeing it a happy one. When I was little The best party I can remember was haveing all my neiborhood friends come over and we all played, had cake, icecream, presents. Now it's just another day to me. The best prestent now that I can recieve is hearing my 9 yr. old son say Happy Birthday to me when he calls from his father's. I think that was sweet of your sweetheart to buy you roses and have them delivered. Happy Birthday.
2 people like this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
I'm sorry you don't really celebrate your birthday. (How's that for the pot calling the kettle black? LOL!) It's always precious to hear your own child say Happy Birthday. I hope your next birthday is special.
@MGjhaud (23069)
• Philippines
4 May 08
Well happy birthday to you Katrinka. On May 5, ti's my father's birthday and he'll be 63 then. He's old and I love him. I'll be going home that day, that's actually tomorrow in my time. I'll be buying some present and for mother too 'cause it's been a long time I haven't gave her a present and it's a mother's day on May 11, right..? Anyway, well have dinner all together with my brothers and I'm sure that'll be a fun day for everybody.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you! Is your father as bullheaded as I am? LOL! I'm a Taurus. If you think 63 is old...my father is 80 years old. I hope you had a wonderful visit. Best wishes to you and your family...
@ferdzNK (3211)
• Philippines
4 May 08
Happy Birthday KATRINKA! I wish the best. I celebrate mine in the simplest terms, though I would prefer everybody in family is present.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you! Birthdays are always more special when surrounded by family. I hope you are fortunate enough to celebrate yours that way.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
4 May 08
Happy Birthday to You! - Here's a cake I "baked" to celebrate your birthday, Katrinka!
Happy Birthday to you, Katrinka. I have "baked" you a cake and all of us here at myLot wishes you a wonderful and memorable day filled with fun, laughter and celebration. Hope you like the cake. For me, my birthdays are usually quite quiet affairs. I will usually just celebrate with my wife over a special meal at a restaurant on or just before the day. My wife will usually also buy me a cake to celebrate with everyone at home. The only time I really had a big birthday bash was when I turned 21 years of age. I had a party in my home, and invited many of my university friends over, and it was usually a dance party with dinner till late in the night.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you so much! You are very thoughtful. It does feel like a birthday party here. Wishing you all the best...
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
4 May 08
Dear friend, First let me wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND A LONG HAPPY LIFE I feel Brithdays has to celeberated as far as possible. As one has got one more year of life in this earth oh we alive till now. Still there might also some limitations for some people and may they have their own ways of defencesive words to celeberate or not to celeberation I hope it their personal freedom I might not be interested to interfere much to an exten. For me personally till my 25th Birthday my family to celeberate it well with our native food Sadya a dish with rice and curries and mostly a special sweet tasted drink called Payasam. After my 25th Birthday I mostly celeberate my birthday with a cake or toffees that all. All Birthday I was satisfied except my 19th Birthday was my grandfather expired on that day.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you ever so much! I'm feeling like everyone at MyLot has pitched in and given me a wonderful birthday party. I love rice and curry. I'm sorry your grandfather passed away on your 19th birthday. Best wishes to you...
@hotsatya (240)
• India
4 May 08
my birthday is come soon .....on 12th june, but i thak that on this birthday i will celebarte my birthday, this year because i have't any memory pic ,& now my best fd will go punjab . so thimk to celebrate my birthday could u tell me how to celebarte my b.day
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
I hope you will tell me about your birthday celebration in june! Do you normally celebrate your birthday in your culture? What would make a nice celebration for you? What do you think of how Americans celebrate? If you have cable and you want to see decadence, watch a few episodes of My Sweet Sixteen. Talk about sickening!
• China
4 May 08
Happy birthday to you!Wish you a new year and some surprisingly rapid progress in all you participate. When talking about birthday, as for me,it means ,usually nothing but an egg in the past days,and now nothing compeletely, for I forget it easily when it comes.
1 person likes this
@KATRINKA (1624)
• United States
9 May 08
Thank you. I wish you all the best as well.