The Snowflake Chronicles

Looking Forward to the December 24

6 Masa’il 163 B.E. - December 16, 2006 at 7:14:58 PM PST

I’m looking forward to my birthday this year. It’s been a long time since I anticipated it approach joyously. As a child birthdays were a chore. I don’t think, growing up, I ever told anyone just how traumatic birthdays were for me. I never said I resented my brothers and sister opening one of their Christmas presents on my birthday, especially when I didn’t get to open a present of any kind on their birthday. Thinking about it now, it sounds selfish, but that’s the way children are sometimes.

My resentment wasn’t my mother’s fault. Mom always tried to do something special for my birthday. Children just don’t understand sharing, especially when it comes to a birthday. I mean it’s not like it was one of my brothers’ or my sister’s birthday. It was the day I was born, it was bad enough that I had to share a bedroom without having to share a birthday.

This year, I’m looking forward to December 24 with anticipation and joy. I haven’t received any birthday cards yet, but that’s OK. Because I’m not sure that cards would make it a more joyous occasion. The truth is, I’m not sure why I’m looking forward to it instead of dreading the day. At my age you’d think that a birthday wouldn’t matter anymore. That it would be just another day or that I wouldn’t want to even think about becoming another year older.