Birthdays

First I should say a big thank you to everyone who made my first real birthday away from home wonderful. I thought it would be a very low-key birthday with little to no excitement. Apparently, I am an idiot. The ever wonderful Candy ensured that I was embarrassed beyond all belief at every turn of the way.

To begin, there were no classes on my birthday; it was, instead, an all day professional development day. So here I am, innocently thinking no one will mention what today is, and then Ty, the head of the recognition committee, kicks off the meeting with a loud publicizing of the fact it was my birthday, including a balloon, card, and off-key round of "Happy Birthday" (keep count people, this is song #1).

I naive thought that, should we go out to eat for lunch in between sessions, I would be safe, but I has proved the fool again as Candy somehow got the whole staff (as well as every person) in Quiznos to sing Happy Birthday to me (#2).

Mortified beyond all belief, I fled back to my cave of a room at the school where I was met with more singing by the office staff (# that's 3, in case you lost count) in the parking lot. I blame Candy for this, though I'm not sure if she was at all at fault.

The remainder of PD went well, and several of us planned to meet at Applebees for dinner. Looking back, I realize how foolhardy this was. My mother called to tell me happy birthday (song #4) while I was at A-bee's, as did Colin (my brother) and Erin (my sister). Little did I know that when I answered the phone and distracted myself, Candy would pounce yet again. She informed the staff at Applebee's that it was my special day, and so when dessert came, I was serenaded by not only the staff, but also several patrons in an off-beat round of, you guessed it, Happy Birthday (#5).

Despite all the singing and merry-making, it was a wonderfully enjoyable birthday full of unexpected surprises and fun. Thanks to my friends here (Candy, Jeanne, Wanda, and everyone else at HMHS) for a great day.