My Birthday, 3 Jan 2005

Someone always says “Time flies”
I never realized until today that I, finally, hit the age number 30.

The phone ring wakes me up around
10 am. It’s my sister from Thailand.
The first thing I heard is she is singing Happy Birth Day song to me. Right, “today is my birthday!”, I tell myself.
I cannot stop smiling when both of my nieces made some background singing. I do not want to be a drama queen, but I am tearful.

Last night, two of my friends did the same thing. They called me after midnight of the day that I first opened my eyes 30 years ago. 30 years?
Oh, my goodness, that sounds scary, doesn’t it?

December was not a great month for me. My emotion and mind were in turmoil. There were many things happened. Therefore, they made my mood go up and down like roller-coaster. I am not sure, if it was a symptom of a man who was going to cross the number 30.

Since Christmas, I and a group of friends had been out almost every night and I had been behaving like a drunken ass until New Year. I think that was another sign of being afraid of crossing 30 as well.

However, my birthday this year is very special because I started celebrating my birthday since New Year eve thanks to my lovely friend who had a surprised cake for me on the New Year eve. Then since New Year, different friends took me out for birthday party every night. Besides, friends from everywhere either called me and sang Happy Birthday song or sent me the card. It is touched to know that all my friends still love me and care about me.

It lifts my spirit, in particular, when I am in the turmoil.

However, birthday for me is usually not a big deal. It’s just the day that reminds me of the past. It makes me look back and see how far I have come. Besides looking back to the past, it’s the day that makes me feel like I need to get more serious about life. Time will never return back, we should do the best out of it so that we will never regret in the future. Of course, it is the day that I have to start counting the line on my forehead but, what the heck, I can just use the Botox if I have to.

I am always grateful to my mother. Birthday is the day to remind me how hard she had to bear this big head son in her womb and had to be in labor for 12 hours!! She gives me life, inspirations, courage, morality and love. Even though, I never have a birthday party even presents when I was young, I always know I am blessing with those gifts that my mom gives to me.

I think I should be grateful on my birthday because, at least, I am still alive, sane and healthy. I still have someone who I love dearly and who also love me dearly as well.

Age is an illusion anyway. The way we perceive our life is ageless.

 

Tae (Kriengsak Athikomvittaya)