Birthday Celebrations 2020

 Woah, with less than one month left until I turn 33.5, I’d better hurry up and pen (well, type XD) this post about how I spent my birthday this year!

So, thirty-three. When I was eleven, I was still only doing primary school (grade six – yes, I’m old enough that high school didn’t start until grade eight XD); when I turned twenty-two, I was less than one year out from being released from the insane asylum (more commonly known to everyone else as the Brain Injuries Rehab Unit of the Princess Alexandra Hospital XD) after the cruel and unfaithful God totally destroyed my life with the disabling brain injury the year before and look, suddenly I’ve already reached the ripe old age of thirty-three! Wonder what I’ll be like when I’m forty-four, fifty-five and sixty-six? XD Actually, I’ve known good people who’ve passed away before reaching sixty-six … sobering thought.

But I digress! Here’s how I celebrated my birthday this year:

Firstly, I love how last year my friend told me that you were allowed to celebrate your birthday for the entire MONTH and not just the day itself! That’s March all sorted, then. XD

As with previous years, my first birthday celebration starts on the second Thursday of the month, when I attend the 3^rd edition book club at the Logan North library. On arrival, I’m immediately presented with a present from one lady and two cards (one homemade) and feel very loved~

Happiness was beginning the day with an awesome sleep, meaning nature didn’t call until the noisy garbage truck THUNDERED down our road to start tipping bins @ 5:55am. The garbos that service the area I live in are odd: during Summer, they don’t arrive and tip bins until like 11am/11:30am but during Winter they come @ like 5am/even earlier, when it’s still pitch black! XD

Since my birthday fell on a Wednesday last year, this year I’d presumed it’ll fall on a Thursday but whoops I forgot: since it’s a leap year my birthday skipped a day and it’s actually happening on the Friday, not the Thursday! Sweet, I didn’t have physio on my birthday this year. XD

 

Instead, mother took me to Sunnybank Plaza, where I chose a birthday cake from Sunni Bakery. Earlier, I’d tried asking her politely could I please buy a birthday cake from the Cheesecake Shop coz cheesecakes are like my favourite type of cake and besides, there’s a Cheesecake Shop at Pinelands Plaza, only like ten minutes from where we live, but mother had immediately shut that hope down, snapping that cakes from there were two expensive. Well, then, a cake from Sunni Bakery will do just fine: please don’t try making me a SALTY cheesecake like you did two years ago. XD I’d actually tried asking how about a birthday cake from Breadtop next but that suggestion got shut down, too. *sigh*

Cake chosen, our next stop is outside to Mosburger, where I got my free birthday burger for lunch! Our final stop at Sunnybank Plaza was Boost Juice, where I got my free regular birthday drink.

Next, mother tootled me off to see Aunty Ann for my weekly massage. This practice originated years ago, when one night a carer/life coach/support worker/whatever they’re called now XD had taken me out to Garbo for the late night shopping. I’d had zero idea what to buy for mother, but my carer suggests why not buy her a voucher for a massage? Turns out mother enjoyed her massage so much; she started taking me for one too! Originally I went to where I’d bought her the voucher, Chi Link at Garbo, but after she found out about Aunty Ann we went to her place instead because we all speak Cantonese and could understand each other! I particularly enjoy Aunty Ann’s firm ministrations; mother particularly enjoys yapping her head off to Aunty Ann. Seriously, for someone who constantly ‘claims’ that she’s a ‘quiet’ person, I’ve never seen anyone enjoy yapping as much as my mother! XD

After seeing Aunty Ann for a comfy massage, I always visit the bathroom once and then sit down at their table to drink almost one cup of water. Today, after doing that I feel particularly loved, because Aunty Ann also passes me an envelope; inside are a birthday card personally signed by both her and Uncle Tai and a voucher for the Coffee Club for ten bucks!

That afternoon, Kim’s the carer/life coach/support worker/whatever they’re called now XD who helps me out a bit with personal care. After I shower, she tootles me down to the Warrigal Square Hakataya and I get my free bowl of birthday noodles with one extra serving of ramen! Kim orders herself a bowl too; we wile away the time just chatting~

By the time she gets me back home, it’s time to sign her off and say my thanks and byes.

Earlier that morning, when dearest dad had come to kiss me bye before leaving for his hard day’s work, I’d reminded him that I was born @ 6:22pm so any chance he’d make it home in time to celebrate that special time with me? Dad promises he’d try his hardest to be back home but no guarantees!

Come 6:15pm it’s looking increasingly unlikely that he’d make it home in time; I call upstairs to mother, asking would she please come downstairs to celebrate my birthday with me? Otherwise I’d just celebrate with my teddy Giant, who was seated in the computer swivel chair behind me. Yay, she comes down! I feel loved~

Fast forward seven minutes, and I’m officially born! Raising both arms (unsure why mother simply refuses to understand how much effort it takes me to do this just because for her it’s like second nature) lest mother bite my head off for only raising the right, I cheer, “Woo hoo! I’m officially thirty-three!” Mother commands, “Get up! I want to give you a hug.” Oh sheesh, woman, can’t I just hug you sitting down? But she’s super-demanding and so I reluctantly stand up quickly, giver her a brief hug and sit back down again.

“STAND BACK UP!” Mother thunders. “I haven’t finished hugging you yet!”

What the heck?! I already hugged you standing up; what do you want this time? However, fearing that she will spoil my birthday, I reluctantly stand up again; this time, mother catches me in a death grip around the neck.

After about ten seconds, I grouse, “If you don’t lemme sit back down and my birthday has passed by the time my butt’s back on the seat, I’m gonna tell everyone that you spoiled my birthday for me.” Post disabling brain injury, I do most things seated (i.e. I even shower seated in a shower chair) and when necessary I can walk short distances but the hardest thing for me’s just standing.

Mother spitefully hangs onto me for at least another ten seconds before finally releasing me. I immediately plonk my behind back into the chair and then quickly glance at the clock. Phew, still 6:22; she didn’t ruin my birthday for me, hurrah!

Next I reach behind me to the computer chair, where my biggest teddy (Giant’s 90cm tall!) was seated with his beaming face. Picking him up, I give him a huge hug, cheering again, “I’m officially thirty-three, yay!”

Awhile later, dearest dad returns home from walk. When he greets me, I ask him how come he didn’t make it home in time for my birthday? Dad just shrugs, explaining that he was busy, but he’s home now and will take me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday, alright? Yay for that; I think it’s the first time I’ve been lucky enough to have both lunch and dinner out in one day!

Any chance I’d get to choose choice of dinner place? It IS my birthday, after all …

Lol, nope. Dad tootles us off to the Sunnybank Hills Sports and Community Club for dinner. We started going there around last year … I made friends with the security dude who drives a gulf buggy around the area and carts tipsy passengers back to their cars! Once when I was making my disable-gaited way back to the car park, I saw him sitting inside his buggy with his portable radio on, waiting for the next patron that needed ferrying back to their car and jokingly asked him, “Hey sir, any chance you can gimme a ride back to our car? I’ll even pretend I’m tipsy if you want!” Then I give a sudden lurch sideways, pretending I’m really drunk. XD The old guy gives a bark of laughter and promises, “Next time!”

Sure enough, the next time the parents and I are leaving after enjoying dinner at the Sunnybank Sports And Community Club, he meets me at the entrance! “You want a ride, didn’t you?” He says gruffly. “Hop in; I’ll drive you back to where your dad’s parked.” I clumsily but eagerly clamber aboard, and he pulls out onto the road. “We’re just here, sir,” I say, pointing to our car. “Dad got the disabled parking tonight.” He responds affably, “Nah, I’ll give you a spin around the car park first.”

During my personal tour, I learn that his name’s Michael and he’s actually retiring at the end of the year! Hence why I didn’t see him when the parents and I share my birthday dinner that Friday night at the Sunnybank Sports And Community Club.

Anyhow, back home, it’s cake time! Dearest dad lights the candles, the parents sing me the Happy Birthday song, photos are taken and then I cut the cake! I deliberately touch the bottom of the cake with that initial slice, meaning I get to give dad a kiss.

Small slices are served; because I’m the birthday girl, I even get a small second slice! Then mother packs away the cake, informing me dad will take the rest to work toms. Me: aww, dad, please will you leave me one slice for afternoon tea tomorrow? It IS my birthday cake, after all! Dad says he will, sweet~

In previous years, my birthday celebrations have always ended with dinner and dessert out at the Glen Hotel with my Year Ten high school maths teacher Mr. Hall, who I stayed in touch with after graduating from high school back in 2004. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible this year, because as my birthday month neared its conclusion, the coronavirus really started having an impact throughout Brisbane. Can’t be helped; will just haveta hope that next year, my month long birthday celebrations really will be lasting the whole month!

Next post here … prolly a post detailing the life of our red Camry, who we’ve had since 2005 and sadly passed away around three months ago. Until then~

Cheers,

Em. ^^