They say that the only date a woman remembers is her birthday. And that as she grows older, she forgets that too. Perhaps one day I'll belong to that category as well, but not right now. For some of my friends make sure I won't forget, and make my day simply because they remember; indeed, one or two of them will call regardless of which part of the world they are in.
Like a number of other kids, I've had birthday celebrations - cakes with candles, ice cream, balloons, presents.... When I grew older, I stopped having the parties, of course, as I'm not a very social person besides the fact that I find it awkward being the centre of attention. However, some of the birthday presents (only birthday, mind you) I've received over the years still stand out in my mind.
Here they are. In no particular order.
- The Sheaffer fountain pen Dad gave me while in school. Dad would always give us fountain pens for birthday presents. And he had good taste. But this pen was exceptional. A heavy, black, metal pen that wrote like a dream and made me forget using Parker pens. As time went by, some of the black lacquer chipped off revealing lovely brass below. The cap is dented and some people would say it looks really shabby. But it still is my most used pen, and I have started every examination paper with it since it became mine.
- The picture dictionary Mum gave me on my tenth birthday. It was my pride and joy and the envy of everyone in class.
- The job I got with a huge organisation. I went through hell just getting to the interview (described in an earlier blog post) but I truly believe it was a birthday gift (I got my appointment letter on my birthday and I remember it particularly as I was wished when the letter was handed over to me) from the Universe simply because of the way things turned out. And it was here that I got my basic grounding without which I would not have been in a position to successfully deal with my jobs that followed.
- The note my sister wrote me years ago when I was going through a phase where nothing seemed to be working out. For it helped me believe in my self again. And made me realise that if other people believed in me, then I must be doing something right, after all.
- The spur of the moment, surprise birthday party that my Lehrerin and the students in my Elementary 1 German class threw me on a Sunday with whatever they could get at short notice. It was really wonderful though I did feel a bit embarrassed.
- The bunch of orchids that one of my directors based in Gurgaon sent me two years ago. It was a nice surprise and came at a time when I was going through hell at the workplace. Actually, that was like icing on the cake for around that time I had cleared my London ICSA exams.
- The diamond pendant Dad gave me in 2000. It was an advance birthday present but I got a job within a few days of getting it.
- My godson wishing me last year with the words, "Happy Birthday! Where is my present?"
