Birthdays were never a huge to-do in my family when I was growing up, and I always a bit jealous of those kids whose parents went to absurd lengths (and expense) to say, “Hey, we’re glad the condom broke!” or “You’re our favorite tax deduction!”
Which is not to say that my parents didn’t love us exceedingly. But as it was, with five children and a single income, we were too poor for things like Chuck E Cheese, backyard trampoline cages, scary clowns and face painting. For years, I even had to share a birthday party and a cake with my less-than-a-year older brother. Incidentally, out of resentment, the day between our birthdays has since been black-marked and neither of us acknowledges its existence. July 20th is dead to us.
I’m not sure who it was that turned me onto the idea of the birthday week, but having been deprived of balloon animals and skee-ball in my youth, I am all over this. A whole week to rejoice over me.
And the celebration begins today.
For Day One of birthday week… I am going to work. Because that is what grown ups do. But my ridiculously cute, almost sister-in-law is going to feed my need for speed to celebrate. That’s right, kiddies. I’m getting Top Gun for my birthday! It’s an important part of my life that’s been missing for some time now.
I haven’t even decided what to do for Day Two. Clean out my closet? Balance my checkbook? I could blow up a few balloons and put some a party mix on my iPod to make it more festive. Maybe sing Happy Birthday while I fold laundry?
Clearly, I am off to an iffy start. But by day four, I promise I’ll start doing things up right. I’m heading out West to spend the next whole week with family, doing things like sleeping in and hiking and fishing and eating my brother’s gourmet cooking. And playing Scrabble. Lots of Scrabble.
Except on Thursday. When we will don sackcloth and ashes. Because that day is dead to us.
In the meantime, if you want to shower me with roses as I walk by, I’ll be in Grand Central Station at 9:25 AM and 5:40 PM daily. What? You say you want to buy me a present? Noooo. I couldn’t possibly accept. But if you insist…
Happy Birthday Week, Fish! It doesn’t matter nearly so much that it took you a while to get turned on to the concept of Birthday Week, just that you did.
Enjoy!!
seriously i think everyone should celebrate birthday weeks. we all deserve it.
that’s why i love that my family doesn’t live in the same city, so i can prolong the yearly celebration even longer with trips to and from!
happy birthday week!
Birthday weeks rock. I started mine by having a luscious brunette show up at my door wearing nothing but a red raincoat. Meow!!
Day two was an excellent Job interview, followed by one of my best performances in goal playing hockey that night.
Next up was the actual day spent with friends. Then came the Job offer which I accepted! The crowning point of the end of that week was giving notice at my hell Job. Best Birthday week ever!
How come whenever I wait for you in Grand Central you don’t like it?
also HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Little House on the Prairie!! Man… I hope you get it so we can call in sick one chilly rainy fall day and watch it.
Happy Birthweek! I’m afraid I’ve got you the same thing as last year. Enjoy!
Happy Birthday Week–It’s my birthday week too, or does it start on your birthday or end on your birthday. I guess I better start on my birthday because it’s in 2 days. Have fun! I will.
Birthday week is an institution. I start a birthday countdown for most of my friends. I mean, birthdays are important. Happy Birthday!
So, I must admit…I’m a tad confused. I thought that you worked for a School (non-profit Education)…right? And my past recollection about schools is that you get Summer Vacation (which I assumed you were on because you’ve been posting more frequently). Anyway, what are you doing going into work if, in fact, you are on Summer Break? That just doesn’t seem very Birthday-ee or Summery in my opinion. However, there is a distinct possibility that I am WAY off about all this.
Happy Birthday Fish! Don’t “Loose that Loving Feeling”!
July 20th is MY birthday. I will celebrate extra hard to counteract the “sackcloth and ashes” bit you and your bro will be doing.
Happy Happy Birthday Heather – Have a great week long celebration!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK FISH!!!! I hope you have a fun and safe trip. Birthday weeks are the best and very much deserved, especially as we get older. We didn’t have alot of money either growing up so I feel your pain with the lame birthday parties, but my mom always made sure that our the house was FILLED with ballons. That is such a special memory to me and one I definitely missed when I moved out on my own.
smilin.n.ny…kids and teachers get off for summer vacation but there are people in the schools who have to work year round. I used to be one of them.
Little House on the Prairie? Oral Fixation? Am I that out of it? OK, no need for an answer here …
But happy birthday to a sweet old lady. After I’m gone, you can have all my oxygen tanks. Hardly been used.
Happy Birthday Week Fish! As my gift to you, please enjoy this Zizou HeadButt Game http://addictingclips.com/Content.aspx?key=6EC2A897F32458F4
What is this Thursday, July 20th you refer to? I’ve never heard of it.
Oh my Goodness, we have the same taste in movies. Of course, now I must run out and buy Parent Trap.
Happy Birthday Week!
Shameless
YAY! ! ! ! You are coming! ! !
And we shall eat things we shouldn’t eat and only sleep when the sun is up and watch the “dance-off” scene from ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ at least 3 times!
Totally and unapologetically shameless!
Happy Birthday Fish! I checked out your list of b-day goodies. I loved the Little House on the Prarie series (I base my knowledge of pioneer history on that series) and I own the Pride and Prejudice set. Colin Firth is dreamy in a British way…:)
Enjoy yourself!
Tell the people in Utah a “hello” from me…it’s been a long time since I’ve gone home, never thought I could miss that place, but I do. Have fun Fish, and Happy Birthday. (everyone should have a birthday on a holiday, mine is the 4th of July, and it is a blaaast.)
july 20th is my birthday. nothing but pain and misery all the days of my life. it is a horrible day. you were right to blacklist it.
heather- I can’t splurge for roses on your birthday, however I can invite you to watch the previous season’s episodes of “lost” with Ari should they ever arrive
-gregg
Happy Birthday! I would send you a present but I think that would move me from the “Casual Reader” to the “Stalking Memorizer” category. So I guess my Happy Birthday sentiment mentioned above will have to be good enough. Enjoy your week!
Happy Birthday Week!
I completely understand your pain about sharing a birthday with your brother. My bro and I are 2 years less a day apart, and we always had to share a birthday party. Our mom made a special effort to make two cakes, but it just wasn’t the same. A birthday should be about *you*, dagnabit! We had bitter fights about whose “day” the party should be on, and the result was the compromise that the party or whatever was never on either of our days. Phooey. No, I’m not bitter… (even tho the bro and I claim to be over it now, as it means one less family obligation to worry about!)
Happy Birthday (Week and Month)!!
A friend of mine insists on Birthday Month. I think that’s perfect, then you can celebrate many times without having to try and fit it into 7 short days!
Fish – I celebrate the whole month of my beloved birthday – Happy Birthday to ME ME ME…
Happy Birthday to you!!
Happy Birthday Week! And I cannot believe you do not have Pride and Prejudice yet. I watch it at least quarterly. It is a MUST!
I know. I am a shell of a person!
My birthday is on the 21st…and I’m celebrating it in Vegas baby!! I can’t wait. I’ve never been. It’s going to be a blast! Hope yours is too!
OMG…N….I LOVE “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”!!! That is like one of the best movies ever made. I still get worried that they’re not going to make it to the show in time.
I’m glad to see that you included Shakira… I’m from Colombia (South America)and accidentally found your blog… it’s excellent. To me, It has become a “must read” every day. And by the way Felicitaciones!
happy happy birthday week! have a blast, whether it’s folding laundry, playing scrabble, or just hanging with the family.
Happy birthday week, and enjoy your vacation!
I hope someone surprises you with this: (I can’t b/c it just feels a little creepy since we don’t really know each other.)
http://www.threadless.com/product/297/Well_This_Just_Really_Sucks
Happy birthday week to my favorite Fish! Enjoy it to the fullest!
Happy Birthweek!!
hey happy birthday Fish… oh i said that name again… the guy i like now calls himself Fish.. for real…
I have decided to take credit for introducing you to the Birthday Week. It was all my idea!! MAA HAA HAA.
Happy Birthday, Heather!
You DID NOT! You did not! You did NOT ask for Little House On the Prairie! You are HalfPint. There is so much that I understand now.
Happy Birthday Fish! I wish you nothing but shiny, sparkly, wonderful stuff in your life that can never be mistaken for fool’s gold!
Happy birthday week, Fish. I hope this is the best birthday yet!!
I empathize about having to share a birthday and party and all that with your brother…I’ve had to do it too, every year for the last 21. I think he resents me for having stolen his birthday away. But at least I know he’ll never have a good excuse for forgetting!
very smart
and happy birthday
I LOVE your idea for a birthday week! Consider it to be officially stolen, as well as the whole registry thing. Happy Birthday and may you continue to only get better with age!
I feel the pain of sharing birthday parties…my older brother and I share a day, in ’77 and ’80, and my sister arrived a day early, in ’83. (Three more hours and lil’ sister would have been sharing too – impatient little tyke.) When people question me about this, I patiently explain that my parents’ anniversary is in October…do the math.
I’m all about the birthday week. In fact, I’m in the midst of mine now, with this weekend being the ultimate culmination of the celebration (oooooh, that rhymed). I’m assuming your week starts next week, since July 20 is dead to you. Hope it’s a good one.
Happy Birthday week Fish!
Happy birthday, Fish!
Try not to have too much fun you’re balancing that checkbook.
Geez. July 20th is MY birthday. Now it feels even more lonely…
Thank you for validating what I have been doing for years. I’m gonna refer to you and tell my friends “see, other people do it too!”, so thanks again!
My birthday week commences on the 23rd and I cannot wait!
Happy Birthday! I hope you get everything you wish for and more!
Wow — all of us with birthdays in July reading This Fish! I’m guessing mine is same as yours, my dad’s a day before. Talk about sharing a birthday (!) — I know all about it.
And Scrabble, and Top Gun … and definitely Much Ado!
Happy Birth-!
Happy birthday fish!
I havenât posted before but I recently read your archives. Beautiful writing…
Birthday week is such a great idea. Iâm definitely starting mine this year. Iâm getting my PhD two days before my birthday and Iâve been looking for an excuse to prolong the celebration. Thanks for giving me an excellent one!
I wish you many happy returns of the week.
hey! july 20th is MY BIRTHDAY! it’s really not such a bad day, Fish, you should give it a chance. come on – we share a zodiac sign, that’s got to count for something…
listen, i’m turning FORTY this year – you’ve got to give me a bright, shiny day! please give the 20th LIFE!
happy birthday to you! =)
we are all so glad the condom broke
lol…You SHOULD celebrate this week. I always celebrate the month, because well, I like the attention. Happy Birthweek! Now, I insist you go get your nails done in the brightest most obnoxious pink they have. (Preferably O.P.I.’s “You’re a Pisa Work”) Have fun!
Birthday week!! That is AWESOME! And yay for July birthdays!
My birthday is on a Sunday…should I go with the week before or the week after? Or start the week on a Thursday so my birthday falls in the middle?
Here you go H, Have a Happy Birthday Week:
http://mougouille.free.fr/zidane.swf
Happy Birthday – watch your mail.
Hi Fish,
I’m the youngest in a very large family, so birthdays weren’t much of a to-do either. About five years ago, I decided to do something totally hedonistic and celebrate my birthday somewhere/anywhere but home. The past few years I’ve partied in Australia!
Happy Birthday Fish! I love Little House on the Prairie! My roommate and I used to schedule our classes around it!
I always celebrate my birthday for a week….don’t know if it’s a Cancer thing, but most of my friendly crabs do the same.
Happy Birthday.
Birthday weeks are great! Birthday days are great! Hell, days are great! Enjoy!!!
Weird. My calendar goes from July 19 to 21st. None of this mythical 20th. i think i’m better for it.
my mom ALWAYS made such a big deal about birthdays…and i carry on the tradition…people think i’m NUTS, but they always love the attention i shower on them…have a GREAT birthday week, and suck all the attention in you can get from those around you…HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FISH!!!
Oh yes, I am a firm believer in drawing out birthday celebrations. Right around the time I turned 24 (oh those many moons ago) I started taking trips over my birthday. A few days in Boston here, some time with a good friend in Queens there and the occasional 8 hour trip south to see the little sis helped pass the days. Basically, what it boils down to is, if you aren’t going to celebrate yourself, then who will?
Happy Birthday Fish, I hope you enjoy your week.
Birthday weeks..possibly the most ingenious idea of them all. My sister has continually robbed me of proper birthday celebration-she had her high school prom, medical school graduation and her wedding all on MY birthday. So, I have officially let the family know that I now will celebrate an entire week…without any interruptions
you’ve finally got your bicycle
http://interactive.usc.edu/members/naimark/archives/005507.html
happy b-day
Happy Birthweek you witty girl you.
Just wanted to say that in my circle of friends, playing Scrabble is code for having sex. I’m assuming you’re not having lots and lots of sex but rather playing the boardgame? Either is an excellent way to spend a day!
Have a safe trip.
– a devoted Fish reader
I remember having “birthday weeks” as a child, unfortunately, that ended when i was like 7 years old.
Thankyou for voicing the dissapointment.In my family there is no going out for lunch/dinner,or birthday cakes.(Hence not many famiy photos either.I’ve aways appreciated the gifts I receive,I know they have been chosen with love & care,and they have gone without to buy them.Couple of my family dropped by for 2hrs,gave me gifts and left.Friends remembered, wished me well from overseas.The most dissapointing thing for me is living alone and not working due to recoving from an accident,it gets lonely, expensive to go out($70+ taxi fare home)It’s winter in Australia, and my 30th being on a Friday night,I would have loved to just put on a nice dress and have dinner. My friend who drives and works, forgot and emailed me for coffee 1 week and 2 days after the event,in her area.Hard on dodgy wkend public transport.I just could have used the company.I try to make a special effort for others on birthdays!Thanks for letting me confess my secret birthday shame,no gift makes up for being home alone and forgotten on your b’day!
My favorite way to celebrate my Birthday Week (you have to say it with capitals, for the gravitas) is to use the glory it bestows upon me to add weight to my vote in any decision made during that time. For example:
Me: Can we play Scrabble and eat burritos for dinner?
BF: I’d rather watch the game.
Me: But it’s my Birthday Week. . .
It totally works. Try it, you’ll see.
You don’t really want Veronica. It’s not so good.
Happy Birthday Fish. Glad you finally got a camera. Now let’s see some Fish pix!
…my birthday was the 11th.. only for some reason the actual celebration is planned for tghe first week of august… Happy belated birthday fish:-) …n yay for july birthdays! (as forementioned..)
I’m sorry… This is going to sound dumb, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt it… What is zzzzuh?