It is not uncommon for those lucky enough to be born in December to celebrate a half-birthday in lieu of the actual birthday itself. My practice of secretly observing my half-birthday began after Tom’s death. With his birthday falling a few days shy of 6 months after mine, I created an excuse to buy myself a gift each year on HIS birthday. A little something for me helped me get through the day.
This year I jokingly posted something on my FB wall “for those who missed my (often forgotten) birthday…” Honestly, I meant it as a joke. So you can imagine my surprise when, while out to dinner, I found myself surrounded by waiters singing the familiar tune while carrying a pretty glass filled with sweet red liquid, an unhealthy dollop of whipped cream, and a single candle.
“Happy HALF Birthday!” YaYa and my fun-loving friend chimed after the singers exited stage-right. I laughed and blushed with embarrassment. “Make a wish,” they said with their big we-gotcha smiles. Then one of them corrected themselves by adding, with another playful laugh, “Make that a HALF wish.”
Of course, I made a whole wish. I’d tell you what it is but I can’t because I REALLY want it to come true.
