My 42nd Birthday

I turned 42 on the 19th of February, last month to be exact. I hate my birthdays. Why? Because I am always left disappointed! You see, when u assume the role of Finance Minister, Domestic and Consumer Affairs Minister, Home Minister, Health Minister etc,you have such a huge portfolio that everyone depends on you and you alone. Every member of the family bet their last dollar on you to TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING!! Including, planning your own birthday. Now that sucks!

I still remember the first birthday for the year was Tushaani's. She turned 15 on the 7th of January 2009. It was a school day and she had tuition from 6-8pm. Being the first week of school, there was no way that she was going to cut school. I prepared "chi-kut-teh" - the equivalent to "bak-kut-teh", only substitute the pork for chicken for lunch. "Bak" means pork in Chinese. She ate up her lunch ravenously. Early in the morning when she descended the stairs, I hugged and wished her "Happy Birthday."

I had prepared way in advance that despite a school day, she will still have a memorable birthday. When I dropped her off at tuition, Vesh, Netz n I went to Giant. We bought her favourite book, the sequel to "Twilight" - "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer. I had also secretly made arrangements with two of her best friends' mothers, Sharnia and Ann to have them join us all for dinner at night. I told the girls' parents that I would fetch them both when I fetched Tushaani from tuition and that I would very much appreciate it if their transport back could be arranged by one of them. Ann's mom willingly volunteered to fetch them back.Tushaani is not to know about this. It is a surprise!

I dropped Tushaani at tuition and quickly headed home. Dinner was roast chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, garlic bread and steamed broccoli. Yummy! I know she would love it. I fetched Ann first and then Tushaani. When Tush entered the car, she was so shocked to see Ann. And when I headed to Sharnia's tuition centre, she was ecstatic when Shania entered the car. The next thing I remember is chatting and laughter and screaming all the way till we reached home which even drowned the car radio.

I tried a new recipe of chocolate cake, which didn't quite turn out the way I wanted. But what the heck, it was delicious!! Since it was a little flat, we ate it with ice cream.

Tush went on and on as to how happy she was to see her friends on her birthday and share a meal with them. That's me, the Home Minister.

In May, it will be Netusha's 14th birthday. I have already planned what I want to do. We are going to have an all girls bikini party. I will put up the inflatable pool in the garden. Dress coat is swimsuit with pareo and every girl will have a garland and a mock tail made from pineapple. How about that? Haven't finalised the details though.

So, we come back to my birthday. Unconsciously, year in and year out, nobody does anything for me on my birthday. The usual question from my husband would be,"So, what are we doing for your birthday?" Man, must I plan my birthday as well! No way!

Towards the end of my birthdays, I get soo irritated and agitated that I would insist to go out for dinner! I hate it when my hubby says, we go out on another day,lah! Saturday lah! And I would say, "Today is my birthday, and not Saturday."

My biggest birthday boo-boo was on my 40th. Turning 40 was SOMETHING for me. 40 spells wisdom and to hell with what others think. 40 means you lead your life the way you seem fit. 40 means having not to please anyone but yourself. 40 means demanding sex from your husband when you are horny! No wonder they say life begins at 40. Yes, on my 40th birthday,my nieces and my in laws were in my house and it was Chinese New Year period. I was hoping since all of them were there, they would plan something for me. But instead they asked me what was I going to do! Hell!
I am the planner in the family circle as well. Birthdays, engagements, Deepavali, BBQ-all the public holidays where the family gathers is always organised by yours truly. But it was my birthday, surely it's no fun for me to plan something? And everyone asked me what shall they do on my birthday!! I wanted to cry!

I have gotten so used to it, that I couldn't care less about my birthday anymore. I have begun to accept the fact that there's more to my birthdays then making a big hue and cry about it. I remember, my sis used to bring me a cake when my children were little. She did it without fail for many years.

I reminded some of my friends to call me on my birthday, which they did. So,pathetic,huh? The first call I got on my birthday was from my niece in California (I didn't remind her though). I also received may emails from my friends who are all over the world (thanks to Facebook). My sis of course called me and so did my sis- in- law. The best gift I received was a video from my nieces. It was awesome and I love it!!

I can't complain too much actually. A week after my birthday last year, Steve bought me a designer watch, EBEL for RM 10 000! That's the discounted prize. The original value was RM 18 000.

3 years ago, he bought me a gold bangle worth RM 2000.

5 years ago, Steve bought me a whole set of diamonds from SELBERAN which cost him RM 10 000. I had a set of earrings, bangle, ring and necklace. I wear it all the time.

10 years ago, Steve bought me an emerald diamond set from Australia.

So okaylah, I don't have a birthday celebration, and I don receive gifts on my every birthday every year but I have got some really exquisite and expensive gifts over the years which many women would not have had in their life time.
When I got home in the evening after picking the kids up from piano lessons, there sat on the dining table a huge chocolate cake, a stock of rose and a card.

Moral of the story is DON'T COMPLAIN. APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE.