I am blogging my birthday celebration weeks late. The week following my birthday was unfortunately the (hopefully) last stressful day of the year...the final business review/annual planning. As I told CF and AT, this was Astoria multiplied a hundredfold! And as AD would say, ang stress ko lampas tao na!
But I digress; back to my birthday. Sorry if I let go of my trademark pensive mood for a second and revel in the blissful sentimentality of the moment.
A day prior to the big day, I was out on an all-day meeting so my presence was not felt at the office. By nightfall I found myself in Trinoma and I met up with CD to get something. We went around for a little shopping and had a pre-birthday dinner. We even bumped into PY who was on leave that day.
I went home and though I was anticipating some 12:01 messages, my body succumbed to the bliss of sleep.
I woke up with a start at 6AM. True enough both of my cellphones were overloaded with messages. I hastily replied to them and dressed for work. The phones were beeping every other minute so it took me longer than usual to be on the road.
I finally arrived at the office.
The sign at the door was expected. The chorus of greetings when I entered was expected. What I didn’t expect was the wall plastered with HAPPY BIRTHDAY in huge letters. It looks like a nursery school wall and it felt like my 7th birthday, minus the hat, confetti and boisterous classmates.
By the end of the day, BA and I went out to buy some food. MM was supposed to go with me but he conveniently disappeared. Later, MM will reveal that he went out with PY (cue in some teasing sounds) to get the pre-ordered cake, which was part of their surprise. The cake was so good that it was the first item to disappear on the table.
The cake has the numbers 30, 25 and 23 (the other two for CD and J). After the customary song, I quickly blew candle #25, much to the exasperation of CD who ended up blowing #30.
Then came another surprise courtesy of AD (obviously hers). It was an audiovisual presentation, a montage of sorts which started with the snippets of a celebrity (haha) and then a spectacle of pictures capturing the best of the recent moments. Thanks, AD! I know you went to great pains to pull that off. I just hope you enjoyed our birthday surprise to you as much.
My marketing family gave me a really cool shirt from Z. I loved it so much that I wore it the next day, sans washing. Good thing they got the size right.
Sorry for the self-promotion (it’s my birthday naman) but here are the messages that are worth immortalizing:
"Happy happy birthday. All the best and find joy in everyday and everything" - Name Withheld (the meaning is not in the message but in the sender, per se)
"Luv yah, Beej! We both know it doesn’t show but we both know it’s true. You are a dear, dear friend; part of my core being. I’m teary-eyed right now. It’s my deep desire for you to be part of my family which will happen when you become ninong to my firstborn. Bonus for me na pareho kayong November ang birthday." – from VDL (who just became a mom)
"Happy Birthday! I've noticed (not only me pala pati ibang tao) that you're back in the saddle again!" – Name Withheld
"You are one of most selfless and clever person I know. Hope this day will turn out to be one of your best!" – from R
"Sana ngayong birthday mo, mabawasan na ang mga Maribeth moments" – from P
"Super happy ako that I’m part of your celebration. You’re such a great mentor and a friend...plus a brother, hehe. All the best." – from C
"I’m glad to see you happier these past few months. Dapat lang noh!" – from B. The “happier” part was encircled by M with a comment: “True, so true” and then seconded by J with “Tama!”
"Thanks for guiding me in whatever question I may ask about work and life. Hope you will be happy always, as if it was your birthday." – from J
"Pinag-pray kita kay Papa Jezaz for good health and happiness. Thanks for everything, lolo!" – from L
"Hope you find your special someone na kasi you’re not getting any younger (re-iterate pa daw!) and para mas happier ka na" – from R
"Before the day ends, I want to wish you true happiness. Remember that happiness should not be dependent on anyone else. Happy birthday" – Name Withheld
"Happy bday! Oops, sori na-text brigade ko ito sa lahat. CC: GMA" – from T
"30 ka na! Settle down!" – follow-up from T
***
Last November 10, I had an advance birthday celebration with my elementary barkada (advance because R had to leave for Macau for her birthday... lucky you!). Despite my incessant plea not to inform the staff that it was my birthday, the cake they bought was a dead giveaway. So I ended up with a silly hat on my head and the staff singing happy birthday, much to my chagrin. Good thing it was late Monday night so there were only a few people around. Thanks for the fun and laughter, guys!
The weekend of my birthday was reserved for my family. We (minus my workaholic sister) spent time somewhere south. It was pretty tiring coz I was at the wheel most of the time but it was all worth the while.
Some shoutouts also to F who went to great lengths to give me and C some birthday surprises. Also to RL who returned from her hiatus to celebrate my birthday. Sana birthday ko everyday if that will be the reason for you to come back, hehe.
Finally, my shoutouts to MB who has become a tad jealous of the personalities that thrive on my blogs (kidding!). Hey buddy, you have been with me through Scylla and through Charybdis. We have proven that trust and true friendship transcends distance. I know I don’t say it much but you are one of the few reasons I am still here. Though you are miles away, your warmth feels like you are just at arm’s length and your presence is never too far...especially when I needed it most. You are one of the most understanding people that I ever allowed to penetrate my crumbling walls.
So there. This is probably my best birthday ever. If this is a sign of things to come, then life does begin at 30.
***
I could not have chosen a better birthday song. We have this tradition of appointing the #1 song on Billboard Hot 100 on your birthdat week as your theme song for the year to come. Mine this time is Live Your Life (T.I. feat Rihanna).
And yes, I certainly will.