My birthday was quite simply awesome. It really couldnt have been much better. The office was quiet. I think that Angel, my Assistant Program Manager, must have threatened everyone with a slow and painful death, because nothing bad happened. I walked into the weekly House Manager meeting and they had balloons, gifts, even a birthday brownie for me. It was great. The best gifts were Tylenol and a lei. I wore it the rest of the day. I think it’s my first lei. I could have said that better, but I didn’t. It’s my birthday. The gifts were all great, and let’s face it – I’m hard to buy for. I’m 49; I have no hobbies; and if I need something I usually buy it. What do you buy a man who doesn’t want anything? My daughters figured out the answer to that question several years ago. My favorite gifts of all time are in a Snoopy bag. I received it on my 41st birthday. What makes the Snoopy bag so special is the story behind it. The girls originally gave me the bag at what was a rough time for us as a family. This particular birthday, I’d been dealing with health problems for months. We’d spent ridiculous amounts of money on medical tests and treatment. All the while I wasn’t working. Julie didn’t know what do about my birthday. My girls came through, though, on their own. They got presents and put them in a Snoopy gift bag. In the bag were some of their favorite toys, candy, rocks, an arrowhead – their favorite things. It was my best birthday ever. The Snoopy bag became a sort of treasure chest for me. It’s where I keep the things I value most. I have in my Snoopy bag cards and gifts the girls have given me over the last 8 years. I have a watch that Regan gave me – her first real watch. She’d wanted a watch for a long time, and finally got this one just a few months before. She turned around and gave it to me for my birthday because she considered it something valuable, something worth giving. I didn’t want to take something like that from her, but what do you do when someone offers you a gift like that – especially your child? I have a Father’s Day card Peyton made when she was very young. It reads, “Dear Dad, I love you. You’re my favorite Dad of Father’s Day. Thank you for letting us go camping someday. Thank you for the picnic. I hope you like this card. Do you like Rugrats? You’ll never stop being my favorite Dad. I hope you’ll never be poor. You will always be happy although you will be sad and mad sometimes. I hope you have a good day. Happy Father’s Day! With Love.” A few years ago, my grandma sold the family farm, which was really hard for me because I’d spent a lot of good times there. That Christmas, Brookes present was a card that read, “I wish you a Merry Christmas!” on the outside. Inside, she had taped purple flowers that still had their color. She picked them during our last visit to the farm before it was sold. The card reads: “I hope you don’t miss Grandma’s farm too much! I love you & I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Here are some of her flowers. I love you.” I save these gifts because they were given from the heart – the things valued most by the people I value most. After my girls, this Snoopy bag is the first thing I would go after if my house were on fire. Today my house wasn’t on fire, even though Peyton and Brooke made pizza for me. We watched Big Bang Theory. Regan came home after work. We talked about everything from philosophy to family, college to relationships. Yes – relationships. On my birthday. Not my idea. I don’t like the thought of my daughters being in serious relationships. Not now. Not…ever. But I know some day it’s likely to happen, and whoever ends up with any one of my daughters will be fortunate. They’re wonderful young ladies – the best gifts I’ve ever received. Between them and my friends, many of whom sent birthday wishes to me, it was a very good day. Thank you all for making my birthday another special one.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 00:01:31 +0000
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