Traditions

As a family grows and changes…as far as I can tell…the traditions we hold near and dear need to grow and change as well. Gathering everyone together is no longer an easy thing to do…so…to celebrate our summer birthdays…this is what we do: We pick one day in July…one day on which everyone can agree…and we celebrate seven summer birthdays…simultaneously. It is one compromise we make to time and how fast she’s passing by… but…when we get together…it’s like Christmas in July! A cake is placed upon the table with Happy Birthday and seven names all printed out…(Covid altered another tradition…there are no candles to blow out). We sing a rousing ‘Happy Birthday’ after which seven people close they eyes… and together we watch seven wishes float up to the sky. After the cake is eaten and the presents are opened comes the part that always makes me smile…it’s the time we get to spend together…as a family…for a while. This year time once again altered our tradition…so we had to look ahead…and our July summer birthday party…was moved to August instead. But we did time one better in this year’s summer party edition…we brought out some fireworks…and started a new birthday tradition. It’s funny how when I was young…My cake…My candles…My presents were all that I could see…I thought much more about myself…and less about my family. I am older now and from that self-centered young boy’s thinking…I’ve been freed! Now I know in any celebration… having my family around me… is the only tradition I’ll ever need.