My Birthday Bash Day 13: Birthday Traditions

For complete context about why I’m not having a birthday party for my 27th birthday this year and how you can still celebrate with me, read You’re Invited to My 27th Birthday Bash.

Today is my actual birthday. I am 27-years-old, and I am thankful for each and every one of you who’s donated to my birthday fundraising goal. I hope to round out my goal today. I am so close.

Every year on my birthday…

● I rarely have a bad birthday and am usually happy all day. The only really horrible birthday I remember was when I turned 18 and was super sick.

● I eat homemade buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips on my birthday. The recipe is from my paternal great-grandma Peggy, and my grandma made it a family institution and famous through her log cabin bed and breakfast where she cooked them on her firewood oven and in antique cast iron pancake molds.

● I open my gifts carefully. This drives all the onlookers crazy. Or to “help” me rip the paper faster. Since I’ve been with Jason, there are many times where my presents magically opened themselves.

● During my childhood, my maternal grandma would bake me a cake. She used to do cake baking and decorating to make extra money, and she really has a knack for it. My cakes cycled through about every ’80s character — Carebears, Strawberry Shortcake, and Rainbow Bright — and one with a Barbie in the middle to a Star Trek one and another that looked like a pizza. However pretty and amazing her cakes are, her pies taste better.

● I write a wish list. When I was a child, my brother Jonathan and I would go through the Penny’s toy catalog and circle the entire thing. Then we’d cut up the clothing section to make paperdolls.

● I don’t decorate for Christmakkuah Kwanzaa Yule or play holiday music until after my birthday.

● In school, my friends would often say they couldn’t come to my parties due to holiday obligations. In college, I had at least one 8 a.m. final on my birthday. Everyone always complained they had finals or they’d all gone home for holiday break already. Too bad because they missed some awesomeness.

● Since 1991, my maternal grandma has bought me Star Trek ornaments for every birthday. She always adds a “whenever you want me to stop buying them, I will.” But after 19 years, we just have a tradition. And maybe sometime I’ll actually get all of them from my mom’s house — my holiday boxes being the only thing still stored at her home — and put up a Star Trek tree.

● As a child, my maternal grandma and I went to the Nutcracker at the Holtz Center. I’d board a Greyhound Bus in Bend the moment school was out, travel across the snowy pass, and stay with my grandparents in Eugene until after my family came for the holidays.

● In college, my friend Erik and I would have joint parties as our birthdays are the same day. Nerdy parties. But I’ve always had a theme of awesome parties. I learned how to throw parties from the best: my mom.

● I always stay up until at least midnight the night before my birthday.

If you enjoy reading about me, please consider showing that appreciation by donating to GeekGirlCon, a geeky convention happening in Seattle in 2011 which I’m helping put on. Think of it like buying me a drink for my birthday.