You know what’s crazy? I’ll tell you what’s crazy.
Christmas Birthdays.
I am a Christmas baby. Well sort of. Born four days after Christmas and 2 days before New Years.
I arrived on planet Earth between two of the greatest holidays known to man.
Hello Baby Jesus. Hello Baby New Years.
And in between, hello Baby AC.
Doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?
I love the holidays, but my birthday is always sort of an after thought.
People are tired after Christmas. They have been fighting crowds at Target for weeks. They’ve been hunting for parking spots in a wasteland of concrete. They’ve decked the halls and egg nogged till they’re arteries are gorged. And then there’s the grouchy, flatulent relatives over-staying their welcome. Add in the occassional rancid turkey and the gift returns with acerbic customer service agents, and it’s all a bit much.
And when one holiday tsunami finally ends, unbelievably, another one begins to swell.
New Years Eve. There are parties to plan and year enders to edit.
A look back. a look ahead. The year’s most intriguing, those to watch in 2012. Blah Blah Blah.
It’s a vomitorium of excess.
And then right in between, there’s my birthday.
It’s tough to be a Christmas baby.
You usually get one big present, called the Christmas/Birthday gift.
That’s good for dad; bad for baby.
And people don’t come to your party. They’re at the beach or skiing in Steam Boat.
People are broke from Christmas and concerned about lay-a-ways for that new New Year’s party dress.
When you are an adult, all this is palatable. You do a shot of Jeigermeister and move on. When you are a kid, it makes you cry.
You never have your birthday in school, because everyone is on Christmas break.
You don’t get the class singing happy birthday, or the special cookies or streamers.
Cupcakes are for the kids born in March. Late December babies. Do even have a birthday?
Birthdays are special. You only get one. Sadly when you are a Christmas baby, you don’t always feel that way.
So enjoy Christmas and New Year’s, everyone. And along the way, think about those days in between.
Tell someone happy birthday. And if they invite you to their party. Bring them a cup cake. It will make up for years of frustration.
And that is crazy.