All Day Family Birthdays!

by Mary Alice
(Memphis, TN, USA)

My earliest memories of family gatherings revolve around birthdays. One of our family traditions is to get together to celebrate each others' birthdays. At some point during the special day, I am bound to see more family members than I see at any other time of year.

With brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins all stopping by when they can, there might be 50 people for breakfast, 25 for lunch, and even more arriving for homemade birthday cake that is sure to follow dinner!

Making a full day's celebration is a tradition that my parents started early. From my first birthday party with the chocolate teddy bear cake (that I got to be first to eat, in my high chair!), to my last birthday this past May, my parents have always gone 'above and beyond' the call in celebrating our birthdays.

Waking up to the house freshly decorated, with streamers and beautiful flowers everywhere, is a favorite memory of mine. A special feeling stays with me all year round, of how my parents make me feel 'deserving' of the love and attention they devote to the special decorations, and a day filled with the scent of flowers.

The breakfast, lunch and dinner of my choice is special, too. But my favorite birthday memory is waking up to a beautiful party feeling, knowing that the family will gather to celebrate my milestones, my accomplishments over the past year.

Birthdays with lots of family are special to me. It is a tradition I will always continue.