Today I’m going to have cake and ice cream, do pretty much nothing (except possibly head to the mall) and indulge in a “me” day—because it’s my birthday! It’s probably a good thing those days only come once a year, because those “me” days are quite unproductive!

When I was young, I used to anticipate the presents on my birthday—what I’d get, who would give it to me, if it would be any of the ten thousand things on my list. Hey, I was a kid—my whole world revolved around what people were giving me. And with my birthday coming nearly seven months after Christmas, it was a long wait for another gift-giving round.

But as I’ve gotten older, my birthdays have become less about wanting gifts and more about spending time with the people I love. I’ll spend today with my kids and husband, spend another afternoon later in the week going out to lunch with friends, and concentrate on the people in my life who make every year an enjoyable experience. That’s a true “me” day for me, when I get to concentrate on those I love, rather than being distracted by work.

Okay, yes, and I do eat way too much dessert, because hey, it is my birthday, and I’m allowed that annual indulgence!

I remember on my 35^th birthday, my husband surprised me with a party at a local hotel. He brought in a Mariachi band, had Mexican food catered for the occasion and bought me the biggest margarita I have ever seen in my life. It was a fabulous party, with friends coming in from all over to help celebrate.

Some of my best birthdays, though, have been the quiet ones. Where I’ve spent them with family and friends, visiting old memories, and eating my favorite foods. I don’t need the fanfare and candles that I had when I was young, just a little seafood and some great company.

Tell me, how do you like to celebrate your birthday? Do you have a favorite birthday memory? Or do you like to pass the day quietly, without the cake and song and candles?

Me, I’ll take the cake for sure, especially if it comes with the people I love sitting around the table, helping me devour it!

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Shirley