Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Think Out Loud [19] Birthdays

My mom's birthday is coming up in a couple weeks. I asked her what she wanted. "Nothing, really." (Mom, if you're reading this, stop and come back after your big day). 

What makes a birthday special? I figure thoughtfulness is a huge component. A couple years ago I wrote her a short novella. It went over so well I decided to do it again this year. I'm tackling Billy from my Anna books. I'm not sure if giving someone a story for her birthday is super lame or not. My all time favorite birthday memory has nothing to do with presents. Actually, most of the day was total shit. 

My fifteenth birthday started out with everyone forgetting my big day. We rushed out of the house to catch the bus. My friends forgot. I got in an argument with my best friend. In the middle of it, I lost my balance on the curb and ended up getting grazed by a car. I wasn't hurt, just scared. But that's how the day went. Everyone forgetting and then getting bumped by a car. When my mom walked through the front door from work, she didn't sing "I'm home!" I'm pretty sure it went something like this, "I'm such an asshole. I'm so sorry I forgot. How about Double Rainbow ice cream?" How easy am I? That easy. We piled into her car while my stepdad grumbled. We had an apathetic teen/Goddammit Robyn kind of relationship. 

Double Rainbow is straight from San Francisco. On the islands everything is shipped in, but shipped in from the states adds a whole 'nother level of awesomeness. No one was there because it was expensive as hell. I ordered It's A Goody. Oh my goodness. I still think about this ice cream. I sat down in the uncomfortable chair at the wobbly table. My mom and sister quickly joined me. There was no talking, just enjoying. Somewhere pacing around was my stepdad, grumble, grumble, grumble. I took one lick. Heaven. Another and I swear it felt unstable. The third lick sent the scoop falling into my glass of water. "Goddammit, Robyn," I heard in the background. "Just scoop it out," my mom said, but this was the last straw. I started to cry. "Go on, get another one. Go, honey." I hopped up and ordered another while my mom with her devilish grin scooped out my ice cream and happily ate it. I sat back down. Amazing, sooo freaking good, shit, it's going to fall! I could tell the damn scoop was going to tumble into my water again! "Oh, oh, oh," and bam. I slammed the cone into my forehead. My mom and sister froze. Until they broke out in roars. "What-" hahahaha "What were-" hahaha "I mean what-" No one could say anything because we were laughing so hard we were falling out of our chairs. More grumble, grumble, grumble from you know who, but us girls were crying in the very best way. "It was going to fall again," I said tumbling us into another episode of "I can't breathe," and "My face hurts," and "I'm dying here." It is my very favorite birthday memory.

I want to thank my friend Think. This is such a neat meme. I look forward to posting what's on my mind. I find myself paying more attention to the world around me. Come and join Think Out Loud and see what I'm talking about.

15 comments:

  1. What a great birthday story! If only there were some pictures to humor us with it. Good luck with your mother's birthday.

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    1. Isn't that how it goes, you're having so much fun you don't want to pause to capture the moment. At least it's branded to my soul so I'll never forget it. Plus my mom and sister still tease me about it.

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  2. Awww Robyn! Thank you so much for your stories. They are always filled with love. You are just so freaking awesome!
    Woo hooooo!

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    1. I have to hop on over and comment on yours because that music video was hilarious. I knew something was going to happen because there was way too much hip action and eye contact going on! This is an awesome meme and I mean it, I pay attention more now. As a writer that is priceless.

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  3. A nice memory and your step dad seems like a fun character. my mom's birthday is coming up too. Birthdays aren't really a big thing in my family so I never know what to get her. Good luck with yours.

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    1. First off, I love your grading scale! You have a really neat blog. Good luck shopping for your mom. I think I'll back up my novella idea with a gift card. Can't go wrong there I figure. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Love your story. When is your birthday? I am the one at work that writes everyone's birthday down when they are hired and send out an email to everyone to let the company know it's their birthday. I LOVE Birthdays!! It's a whole nother year I got to live. Mine is in about a month - September 14th. I hope to do something special on my blog. And I will definitely be having ice cream. Thank you so much for sharing your story! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. I can't believe it, Jaclyn. I'm Sept 12. My mom, sister, and I love birthdays. We go all out. When I was a kid, we'd have pool parties and sleepovers. A while back a church was wooing Shan. I told her they don't allow you to cuss or celebrate your birthday. "Shit, what about getting presents?" She's the one who always calls to tell me who to wish a happy birthday. I just wrote yours down.

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  5. Wow! I love this awesome birthday story, Robyn. I can remember having quite a similar experience on my birthday with no one calling me except my mum when it was almost midnight. I was happy, though, that she called to wish me Happy Birthday.

    I don't like ice cream but I checked the link out. The ice cream looks yummy. :)

    Thanks for sharing. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend! :)

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  6. I'm glad you got that call from your mom. I'm terrible at remembering important days. I can remember the silliest things, but important stuff I completely space. One year I forgot to put up birthday decorations before Will woke for school. He was so disappointed. I make sure now before every special occasion and holiday I have decorations up and ready to dazzle.

    You don't like ice cream? Cake then?

    Happy Sunday, Kaykay!

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    1. I like cake, but not much. I love sausage rolls, though.

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  7. Hehe that was awesome. I felt like you were talking about a scene from a movie. I could feel your frustration and awkwardness and happiness. Those are the moments we never forget, right?

    I love birthdays too.

    Think out loud is so cool,I've thought many times of join it but for some reason I keep postponing it.

    Have a great week, Robyn.

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    1. Hi Athina! One of these days maybe you'll join us. You could post anything, a song, picture, joke, gripe. You could give us a glimpse of life in Paris (I selfishly suggest). We should have a "share your city" blog hop.

      You're right about unforgettable moments, I'm lucky to have so many good ones.

      You have a great week too!

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  8. That is a fantastic birthday memory, Robyn...and an amazing tale of shit turning gold. I'm so glad that day turned out the way it did...things in your life could have gone so wrong from then if they hadn't! LOL

    And in case you're wondering, I think a story makes the perfect gift! ;)

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    1. Thanks for that, Brandee! I'm still working away on the story.

      That birthday looked completely unsalvageable, but then became my favorite memory. My mom and sister still act out the ice cream on the forehead maneuver, but that's okay because then I act out various stumbles my sister has taken where I ended up on my butt from laughing so hard.

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