A dear boating friend has recently celebrated his 80th birthday and kindly sent us photos of his family and celebrations.
Apparently 16 adults and four children went out for an Italian meal, then it was back to their daughter’s house for cake, cards and presents.
The theme for the cards, all to be handmade, was what life was like in 1939, and one had a child going to bed by candlelight.
The kids all helped blow out the candles, and a good time was had by all.
It took me back to my Mum’s 80th and how we all met up at a restaurant to celebrate. She had been staying with us for the weekend and broken the zip on her trousers, so they were held up with a safety pin.
Going further back, I can remember how disappointed my Dad was that no-one remembered his 60th birthday. It wasn’t that we forgot his birthday at all, just that everyone thought he was a year younger than he actually was. The following year I bought a 60th birthday card and put ‘+1’ on the front. He would have been 90 this year.
Going even further back was a trip to Cardiff for the rugby, and ‘my date’ agreeing to a detour to visit my maternal grandfather whose 70th birthday fell on the same day as the match. He was over the moon to see me.
My 18th was a little subdued as my paternal grandfather died that year.
My 21st was a farce as my husband-to-be bought me a box of chocolates in the sale with Happy Easter on it (my birthday is May 12th and Easter Sunday was April 10th).
My 30th was neat as I lived away by now and Bro sent me flowers, though he wasn’t in NZ then.
My 40th was different as my Dad was in hospital and I took my cake into the ICU to share with the staff. He died the following day. That was the year we moved into our semi and Bro and the family emigrated to NZ.
My 50th coincided with our 15th wedding anniversary, so notices were in the paper, though I didn’t have a party, just a quiet meal out with Hubby.
My 60th was terrific, as we also celebrated our Silver Wedding anniversary. MSM had Maggie for us overnight so that we could spend the night in a hotel and I could have a luxurious bubble bath (she supplied the bubbles, bless her).
My uncle, Mum’s surviving brother, is 90 this year, another friend is 80 and Bro is 75.
Do you celebrate special birthdays, or is it just another day?
I like to make a big deal out of everyone else’s, but not my own. We always celebrated my mom and dad’s birthdays each year and of course the milestone years were special. My dad didn’t like surprise parties, so he was always in on the plans my mother and I had in mind for him. My mother moved to Toronto (from Montreal) when she was 75. I had gone to Montreal for her 75th but when she turned 80 I decided to surprise her. She volunteered at a hospital and her 80th fell on a volunteer day. So I asked the head of volunteer services if I could bring a cake at lunch time. We got a very large one so all the volunteers could have a piece and I brought it into the cafeteria. The look on my mother’s face was priceless. And then thst night we went out for dinner with my friends, who she loved, and had more cake of course.
How wonderful Fransi! My Mum’s 80th was a bit like that as she had no idea. I had hoped something would be done for her 90th, but my sister didn’t arrange anything, though the social group Mum attended gave her a cake and special attention that week which was nice.
The year Mum stayed with us for two months we celebrated our anniversary, my birthday and hers, so I made her a cake. She was chuffed to bits. It even had candles. I loved to spoil her when I got the chance.
I loved to spoil my mom as well. Doing so pleased me every bit as it pleased her and it sounds like you are the same.
I think so. I get more pleasure giving and doing for someone else.
Me too
I don’t care about my birthdays, but it’s nice my girls always get me something thoughtful. At work, the guys always have a cake (and I get one on theirs too). Close friends say HB, etc. I might miss all that if it stopped. I definitely don’t want anything more elaborate. 🙂
It’s nice to be remembered, but the age thing is irrelvant to me now.
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For the last year, I’ve told people that I’m 12 with 50 years of practice. As for “celebrating,” we don’t.
Like it John. Hubby says it’s still OK to act our shoe size (9 and 7 respectively)
I had a birthday drop in for my 60th – 11am – 10 pm. The invitation said no bus pass no presents no party just drop in. Cyberspouse made lots of cakes. It was good fun but tiring. My mum is 93 now.
What a lovely idea. Mum was 95 and the last card I made for her is featured in several posts.