Happy Birthday, Little Miss!

(WARNING! This is not Stacy! But please, keep reading.)

It's arrived, amidst very little fanfare and excitement, but it has arrived nonetheless. My wife's birthday is today, and we're going to celebrate.

For those of you who know, Stacy loves to celebrate birthdays--first ones, important ones, milestones, themes--it doesn't really matter, as long as there is something to mark the occasion. This is one thing where we couldn't have been more different when we got married.

You see, my birthday is one of three events to occur on the same day in my family of origin. My parent were married. Two years later to the day, I came along. Then two years later, yes, to the day, my brother came along. Four years, three events, still only 24 hours in which to celebrate. Take away 8 hours for sleep, a few for eating, more for showering, working, scratching, whatever, and you're left with about 38 minutes per event. Don't bother checking the math--it's only an estimate. With two parents and 6 siblings there are 8 birthdays plus and an anniversary to celebrate each year (with more events being added all the time). So you can see how making much of a big deal would quickly become cumbersome.

So, I wake up, note the date, and go about my business.

Contrast this with my wife. Her mother, for example, begins celebrating her birthday in June by counting down the 30 days until her birthday. Then she celebrates through July, right past the actual date, and continues through October or so, only to begin reminding people her birthday is coming up "soon." My wife isn't quite so bad, but March 3 is a big deal. Her being a thoughtful and caring person, she wants to make everyone's birthday special. My birthday went from being another date on the calendar to be shared with a few other events to being a large, nearly overdone festivity. Our children have elaborate theme parties, and we have a good time.

I know 34 is not a major milestone. It's not even half-way between 30 and 40. She can't magically do anything today she couldn't do yesterday, a la 16, 18, 21, etc. But it's a special day nonetheless. There will still be breakfast in bed and children to share that breakfast. There will be homemade cards (Oops! I let that secret out of the bag!). There will be a birthday dinner where we eat way too much sushi for 4 people. Let's all celebrate. Let's tell her how grateful we are to have her in our lives.

March 3 is not only the day she was born, 34 years ago, but it is also the date my eventual best friend was introduced to this world. It is the same day that the mother to two wonderful and beautiful children came to be. It is the very same day that someone destined to be an important part of many lives was born.

I for one am grateful to have Stacy in my life and cannot begin to express my love for her here. The best I can do is say Happy Birthday and thank you for all that you are and do.

I love you!