45...

Yesterday was Juan's birthday.  He turned 45.  45?  How is that possible?  I met him when he was 18.   It does seem like a lifetime ago, but is still hard to get my head around the fact we are in our 40's now.  As far as birthday's go, I think this one was pretty good.  He doesn't like celebrations of any kind (dreads all holidays with a passion and even as a child asked for no parties) and most years I do a little something anyway just because I believe everything is a celebration.  This year though, I decided to resist the temptation to make the day how I see it as perfect, and try to give him his vision of a nice day; no cake, no cards, no presents.  I didn't even bring it up at work, and for the first year ever, even the kids didn't make him cards.  I just kept telling myself what he tells me every year, "It's just another day."  Truth be known, we were all taken off the hook, and it wasn't a bad thing.

What we did do was sing Happy Birthday.  Well, actually Lauren entered the bathroom as Daddy was shaving, dancing the Can-Can and singing the birthday song to him. Niko waited until later to share his version of the song in a hilarious high-pitched Bee-Gee's version.  Of course, we were out to dinner at his mother and brother's invitation at the time, and the audience only encourged him more.  We all laughed, enjoyed a delicious meal (at the new El Ranchito in Laguna Niguel) and then the day was over.  All in all, for the first time ever, I think the day went as unceremoniously as possible.  Juan got his wish without even blowing out any candles. I don't have a picture to post--no cameras were another request, but we do all have a warm memory of a nice time spent with loved ones, and we were all reminded , that that is truly what birthdays are really all about.