Birthday Wishes
August 17, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: guest blogger 
As a young girl, I remember boldly proclaiming I did not want to become an adult. To grow up. With a calm demeanor, my mother solicited my explanation for such a proclamation.
Adults don't believe in magic. They don't eat birthday cake or make wishes. They don't hear the stories the wind tells as it rushes by, I said.
My mother took a deep breath. She was quite still, thoughtful. My allotted time for personal attention was expanding beyond the few minutes her harried schedule usually allowed. Pleased by my own fearless announcement, I waited as an apprentice sitting at the foot of an exalted teacher.
Well, mother began, who do you think taught you about magic? Who baked and frosted your birthday cakes? Who writes the stories you read in bed, even after the light is turned off?
Adults do, I grudgingly answered. But those grownups are different, I cried in my defense. They don't make wishes.
No different than you or I, my mother smiled. Becoming an adult, growing up is not all that bad. Use your imagination. Nurture it. Hold it tight. Keep demanding birthday cake and ice cream. Share your ideas about magic, about wishes. Just like I share with you.
But you are different mom, I said. You are not like the other mothers.
Rising my mother said, you don't need to be like the other mothers either.
As I have aged, my love of birthday celebrations has remained constant. I can't imagine a birthday without cake and ice cream. Presents I can do without, but the magic represented by cake, ice cream and a wish sent into the ether, I can not.
My calendar is filled, every single month, with the birthdays of colleagues, friends and family. Sometimes I make a phone call. Sometimes a card. Sometimes I bake a cake. Sometimes I make lunch reservations. Always I make a wish.
All of my family, most of my friends, live far and away. I can't share cake, or watch candles blown out as a wish is made. It has been frustrating not to be able to share the day with loved ones. To laugh with them, to be present with them, to wish with them.
Instead I write long rambling letters throughout their day. I eat their favorite cheeseburger and fries. I buy a slice of desired chocolate cream pie in a pastry crust. I take photos of a cherished view. Then I send the rambling letter, the photos and describe the brilliance of pie with a pastry crust.
I talk directly to my sister, my brother, my friend. I write about random thoughts and silly observations, just as if I were sitting at table with them.
And I always make a wish. A wish I send out into the night for them. The wish itself is a tradition now.
These birthday wishes are for more laughter, more ease, more candles on the cake. To have more wishes to make.
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Our guest today is Catherine McKinney who "lives to write" and is "an eternal student of story and the story teller" (her words!). She lives in Maine and does indeed write over at Catherine W McKinney, Misadventures of a Writing Life, Word by Word. Welcome to Vision and Verb, Catherine!
Birthday, Catherine McKinney, wishes
Reader Comments (19)
What an ablsolutely marvelllous approach to life. A belief in magic, in cake, and in the power of wishes is making me smile loudly over here. Thank you.
This reminds me of Peter Pan and his wish to never ever grow up. What a beautiful thing it is to find the magic in birthdays and wishes...and to never grow too old to be forever young.
Thank-you for this wonderfully inspiring...wish-filled post and for visiting us here today Catherine!
This is exactly as I imagine birthdays everywhere should be, Catherine! No holding back. Go for broke. Just celebrate. And with cake and ice cream, never count the cost! I love it.
Thanks for joining us today here at V&V!
I glanced at your image and thought, 'that's nice.' And went on to read your post. Then I went back up to your image, and took time to enjoy every detail with a whole new meaning. Inspiring post. Perfect image. Loved the line "These birthday wishes are for more laughter, more ease, more candles on the cake. To have more wishes to make." Such a wonderful wish. I hope someone wishes those same things for me on my upcoming birthday! ;)
Thanks for joining us to day, Catherine!
I so remember not wanting to grow up! Though my experience is not the same as yours it is so similar. I love how you wrote this and the image ...that pie had to be yummy! So glad you shared your vision and verb with us today.
Here's to birthday wishes, more candles on the cake, and above all....believing in magic.
what a joyful, youthful, and delightful post about cake, wishing, and the importance of celebrations. a fun departure from the usual banter my friends and i have about our ages and birthdays! time to refocus on the kid-like pleasures of laughter, ice cream, candles, and taking pictures.
thanks for the super post.
Catherine, this is the most beautiful reminder about birthdays! I am guilty of forgetting birthdays, not writing etc. You make it sound so special, and I will make a note now for every person's birthday who is important in my life. There always is time to write a card, to include something personal and make a wish.
I love love love what your mother said.
I thought that advice from your mother was perfect, too! and I love birthdays, think they should be shared & celebrated as much as possible.
Thanks for a fun, enlightening post.
Catherine, you are my sister through marriage and I love that though we were not together for my birthday this year you enjoyed my favorite birthday lunch of a cheeseburger and fries with a slice of chocolate cream pie with a "real" crust. The only thing that would have been better would have been to be together. We all should keep the magic of birthdays in the front of our minds as not only are birthdays special but the remind us that we are still alive and should always look for the magic and joy in life.
I love your idea and am stealing it as all my family also lives far away and sending a card is never enough. Your way of honoring a birthday sounds like so much fun and it keeps the magic alive. Thanks for joining Vision and Verb today. As a fellow writer, my next stop will be your blog.
This is a beautiful sentiment. My family is so spread geographically. I'm going to incorporate some of these thoughtful remembrances into our birthdays to come. Just lovely!
Thank you for the honor of writing for your community, your readers. It has been an honor. The comments are wonderful.
All the best, Catherine
Such wonderful birthday tributes! You friends and family are fortunate to have you.
This is such a lovely post. I was drawn here because today happens to be my birthday, and it seems lately--as kids have grown up and everyone's grown older--we've moved away from much of the magic of birthdays. I find I don't much care for this more "adult" way of doing things. I loved reading your story and hearing how you honor your loved ones on their special days; it's beautiful. And, if you don't mind, I'm going to pretend that at least a couple of your very thoughtful wishes are for me! ;-)
I love every detail in your capture! Thanks so much for joining us!
Wonderful vision and verb, thanks for sharing
This is such a lovely approach to life. I can see you, your family and friends are all surrounded my magic.
What amazing writing. Here's to a continuous supply of magic wishes.
What a lovely way to keep a bit of the magic in your life... and what a lovely gift to your friends.
I agree, it is important to hold onto that magic, the wonder, the imagination of childhood. It's exactly what keeps us young.