Downstairs making lunches for my children in the early morning hours, it was already apparent that there was something special about this day. The hard boiled eggs easily shed their skins. The peanut butter had a lovely oily sheen. I had enough vanilla yogurts to go around. Making lunches was never this enjoyable. Even waking my kids and watching them drudge themselves from their slumber took on a rose colored hue. They looked young and gorgeous. Even I didn’t look half bad as I gazed at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Okay, the lights were off, but whatever.
Maybe it’s because today is my birthday. I am 43. Wow, that sounds old. 43 is a woman with short hair and 10 extra pounds in mom jeans, not me. Although, I can’t say the gym clothes I’m sporting on a daily basis will be seen in Vogue anytime soon. And I have recently gained a few pounds. Crap.
Well, I certainly don’t feel 43. I mean, sometimes I feel 100, but certainly not 43. On most days, I think I settle in nicely around 31, although for the record, 27 is the age to be… not so young as to still be in some back alley throwing up your fourth margarita and accompanying nachos on your borrowed overpriced shoes, but not so mature that you limit the potential of your own possibility. But 43… Wow, again. I seem to be stuck now obsessing over the number. I can’t move on. I can’t look away. I need to get it out of my head. 43434343434343434343434343. That’s better, for some reason now all I see is 34. I’ll take it.
Something about birthdays make you feel very young and hopeful, like there’s a surprise waiting for you around every corner. They also can make you feel very old, like when you realize, there are no surprises anymore, only kids who couldn’t bother to even make you a card and a husband who didn’t take the early train home, and spent the night watching the Yankees.
But that was last year.
This year, I’m taking control of my birthday and not leaving it in the hands of amateurs. I’ve scheduled my annual physical this morning. I thought it was a positive way to start the year. After that, I’m heading straight to the gym. Then I’ve got a massage appointment, followed by lunch with friends. I love it already.
My husband walks in the kitchen where I’m finished with the lunches and have started giving the boys breakfast. “Happy birthday, Mommy!” he booms. “Did everyone say happy birthday?” Three sleepy heads lift. A muted chorus of unenthusiastic “Happy birthday, Mommy” dutifully follows.
“That’s it?” My husband bellows. “That’s all Mommy gets?” That woke them. Immediately, three bodies attack me with hugs viscous enough to suffocate a small animal. I beam. That’s more like it.
I’m totally feeling the glow, all warm and happy. I add pick up ice cream cake to today’s to-do list. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t, but I’m old enough to know not to put my happiness in anyone’s hands besides my own. It’s a gift.
I wish. 😉
Icescreammama 
Happy Birthday!!! Going to be so much better that last year! Love it and the post. Woohoo!!!
Happy birthday! I’ll be sure to use your tactic and switch the numbers for my upcoming 43rd birthday this year.
works, right? now if i could just change the numbers on the scale.. 🙂
We should create a scale that always tells you the weight you dream of! We’d sell millions.
yes.. then we could do a whole unsized clothing line to match… 🙂
Happy birthday my friend!
thank you, thank you. 🙂
Happy,happy happy birthday my dear!
…”not to put my happiness in anyone’s hands besides my own”….this long sentence is the most valuable in your post and something you should never forget…….
working on it constantly. i work so hard on appreciating everything, that sometimes, i kind of forget about me. 🙂
I know!
xo 🙂
Happy Birthday!
thank you!! 🙂
So much to celebrate!! 100 posts– Whoop! A fun birthday plan! And looking not one day over 25!
are you sure you’re wearing your glasses???
Happy b’day, lady! I decided to take matters into my own hands at 40. You know, when NO ONE REMEMBERED…AGAIN! Come say hi to me over at my place. I have my Yeah Write post up. It’s about vacations. And poop. 😉
Happy Birthday! You truly don’t look a day over 34. Hope you have a fabulous day celebrating YOU! 🙂
ha!! i’ll take that.. thank you!
Happy, happy birthday! On my 30th b-day in January I picked up my own ice cream cake too. I knew my husband or my sister might do it for me, but I wanted that cake really badly and I wanted it to be the flavor I wanted, so I did it myself, and it was glorious.
exactly!! so what’s your flavor?? 🙂
I’m 43, too! I definitely have the ten pounds – or 20. But not quite the short hair. Happy day to you! Happy year!
i’m resolving today to be a healthier me.. can’t stop eating ice cream, but i can stop sticking my fingers in the peanut butter jar.. that’s not helping. 🙂
Way to not leave it in the hands of amateurs. 🙂 Love this and sort of hate and struggle to find the joy in birthdays every year. I think your hands-on management sounds like the plan.
we’re in charge, right?!!!
That’s the spirit! You are amazing and inspiring at any age, but especially at this one.:) Happy, happy birthday!
thank you, my dear. 🙂
Happy birthday! And you don’t look a day over 27!
ha! i would have believed more if you said, 37, but i’ll take it, baby!! thank you!! 🙂
Happy Birthday!
thank you. 🙂
aaaaaah FABULOUS! Happy 34 to you! ;D
Happy Birthday! Just remember that you’re in your prime, okay, in a prime at least, as in prime number. This is why Kellie is always calling me a dork.
haha!! i’ll take it! Thanks.
OMG, your math would make me 64!! I may never recover from the shock!
ha! yes, it only works in the earlier numbers… sorry bout that. i’ll come up with a new way to figure stuff out next year. 🙂
A little birthday dyslexia with the candles never hurts either! Happy Birthday! and congrats on the 100th…I look for your posts ever since I joined!
i so appreciate that. that’s the best gift! 🙂
here’s to 100 more
also note the lack of punctuation in my comment as tribute to you
happy birthday
!
noted. thank you. 🙂
here’s to 100 more
also note the lack of any punctuation in this comment as tribute to you
happy birthday
!
Happy Birthday! You are a young’un compared to me!
and i’m an old’um compared to many. depends you look at it. 🙂
Happy Birthday! Love this- “I’m old enough to know not to put my happiness in anyone’s hands besides my own.” I am still trying to own this one- although now at least I realize it!
it’s not easy. i’m getting better at it, now that i’m old!!
Happy Birthday. I’m wishing you much Haagen Dazs.
your wish has come true!! yum!! thank you!
Fantastic!! Happy birthday mama!!!! You have so much to celebrate!!!
thank you!!
Happy birthday! I really enjoyed this post. You seem so relaxed and carefree and comfortable with your life. That in itself is such a blessing. Then to get tackled by three boys in the morning and, hopefully, the man tonight is just icing on the cake. Have a great one, Alisa.
thank you!! i try. it’s been a happy day. 🙂
Aw, happy birthday!! You’re absolutely right – the joy of the day is in your own hands! Whenever I depend on someone else to make my birthday amazing, it ends up fizzling – best to just make your own happiness. 🙂
exactly. and it’s been a good day!!
Happy birthday! Love your attitude. 🙂
thanks. it’s all that age and wisdom. 😉
Happy birthday..and yo know my view on age! Besides if all else fails, just remain out of control and see what develops! 🙂
i do!! and i’m enjoying every minute. 🙂
Happy birthday! Remember what they say, life begins at FORTY!
wonder who started that saying… probably a bunch of 40 year olds!! 🙂
Cheers to your birthday AND 100th post! I enjoy your humor and writing!
thank you so much! 🙂
Happy birthday! In the WordPress reader, your photo came up before the story, and I thought, “Wow! She must have started her family pretty early.” I did not think, “No way is she 34!” You could totally pass for 34, my friend. It must be all that positive energy and the running 🙂
stop it!! no go on!! thank you. 🙂
So happy you shared your birthday with us! Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu!
thank you!
Happy birthday! 43 is my favorite number!
yay!! 🙂
Happy birthday! I love that last part about not waiting to see who will and won’t do anything. Great way to look at things!
thank you!! and the birthday turned out good – thanks to me!:)
Woo Hoo!!! A birthday!!! and cake!! I love cake!!! Hope you enjoyed it!! And you can totally go for 27, I won’t tell anybody 😉
two cakes!!! i bought one myself and then got another one!! haha!
Happy belated Birthday! Loved this post and your attitude.
thanks!
Thoroughly enjoyed this, especially considering I’ll be 43 on my next birthday. Hope you have a happy day!!
thanks! and it’s 34! haha!
happy birthday!
thank you!
No f-ing way! My birthday was yesterday!! April 23? or is yours April 22? Either way, happy, happy birthday sister!! I hope your day was wonderful. You must be doing something right – 100 posts and looking good!
APRIL 23rd???? NO WAY! did you have a fabulous birthday???
Yes, April 23!!! So weird and wonderful! I’m honored to share a birthday with you! I had such a great day – I’m definitely blessed. How about you?!!
i cant believe it!! i had a wonderful day, thank you. so glad you did as well!! i’m still a little shocked – i mean, my first real and most special connection as a blogger… we already had so much in common! this might be too much! haha!
Happy Birthday! I thought it was interesting that you had scheduled your check-up on the same day as your birthday. A couple months back, I had my 45th birthday on the same day as my physical as well. I considered it a gift, that my Dr. decided to forego donning the rubber glove and not give me my over 40 exam.
It’s the small things. 🙂
i thought the same… a good positive way to start the year. and yeah, it’s all about the little things these days. 🙂
Happy, happy, happy birthday! I hope the rest of your day was just as awesome! Cheers!
thank you! it was an awesome day. 🙂
I love it and I adore you! You had me at “Okay, the lights were off, but whatever.”
Good stuff!
thank you thank you!! sorry it took me so long to respond, i lost your comment somehow. 🙂
Happy belated birthday Alisa
You look amazing
Happy birthday, and thanks for sharing it with us!
Happy belated birthday!
I am always a bit disappointed on my birthday as no one ever does anything to make it special. I wish I was more like my Aunt. She hosts a big party for herself with all of her friends every year, and she’s always telling me you have to take charge of making your own memories. Maybe I’ll do that from now on. Then again, it’s a lot of work. 🙂
i’ve never loved my birthday’s either, and i don’t think i could go in for the whole party effort. that’s not worth it to me, but planning my own happy day.. a massage, a lunch with friends… ice cream.. those things can make for a good day. treat yourself. 🙂