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Well, today is my birthday. It started out well enough...DS gave me birthday hugs and kisses, and when I got to work my mom called to wish me a happy birthday. Then my co-workers came in...and nothing...even from the one I've been friends with for 10 years. They all forgot about me.
My boss (who is at the East office) did leave me voicemail in which she sang to me, and the two gals in the East lab did send me a birthday card..probably because my boss had them sign it. Other than that.....nothing. Each month, our office does a big birthday cake and ice cream party for everyone who has a birthday that month. They somehow forgot to stick me on the birthday list they sent out, and they didn't invite me.
All my outside-of-work friends forgot about me as well. Not a single one did anything.
Tonight was one of my nights to work late. The plan was that when I got off work, I would go to my mom's house to pick up DS, as usual, but then we would have my birthday celebration...my mom, my sister, DS and I.
Now, I should explain something here about presents. Long ago, my mom, sister and I made a pact that when there were gifts to be given, we would either provide a list or tell the other two exactly and precisely what we wanted...and yes, we do have a price limit. This insures that we get what we want. Well, I gave my list out; from my mom, my ultimate gift on the list would have been a gift card from a gas station (to be used when my sweetie comes home and we go on our road trip). From my sister, what I really wanted was a bottle of this fancy vanilla shampoo...the stuff is $9 a bottle and I would NEVER spend that much on myself for shampoo. I even said where the shampoo was, and the price was well below our established limit.
Well, I got off work and went to my moms. My mom had asked me several times if I was SURE I didn't want cake and ice cream. I said no...that I was behaving, and didn't want any. Well....not only did they NOT do that, but they didn't do decorations or anything else....and decorations are a family tradition. They didn't even buy cards...and my mom is a card junkie. Nicholas gave me his presents...a bracelet he made with my sister's help, and a gift card...he and my mom were unable to find the overnight bag I'd wanted. Fine and dandy. Then mom had her present to give. Over a week ago, she asked if I would be okay with a visa gift card instead of a gas gift card...that way, I could use it at any gas station. I told her that was a good idea. Well.....she changed her mind again. She got up and handed me cash. She said that cash would be even easier for me to use than a gift card. She didn't even wrap it or put it in a card or anything. She just handed it to me. Then my sister had her turn. She gave me a package that was nicely wrapped. Inside were three brand new cds I didn't want from bands that I only kind of liked in the 80's. But the cds didn't have any of the songs I liked. She explained that this could be music for my road trip. She spent much more than the darn bottle of shampoo would have cost.
I felt like crying right there and then. What a downer of a day at work...then I come home and I'm let down...why didn't they stick to the list?? But my sister and mom kept asking me if I was SURE I liked the presents, and I lied like a good girl and smiled and said I loved it. Yes, cash is always good, but it seems like my mom could have put SOME effort into my birthday...more than just driving through the ATM. I cried on the way home.
I KNOW that when my close co-worker remembers my birthday, she is going to feel really bad, and that she will make up for it. I know that leaving me out of the monthly birthday celebration at work was just an oversight. I KNOW that being forgotten by my friends was an accident and not done out of any malice. And I know that my mom and sister did what they thought was right, and it's nice of them to at least remember me.
But I'm still crying.
As for my sweetie, he is going to TRY and get online tonight so that we can chat...but he can't promise anything. Of course I don't blame him...he has to do what Uncle Sam says.
On a good note, I've stayed on plan all day. My birthday treat to myself was an iced decaf with a bit of heavy cream and Kahlua-flavored DaVinci syrup.
Oh...and this weekend I'm going wild and I'm BUYING MYSELF THAT SHAMPOO!!!
Thanks for bearing with me...
~JoAnne
My boss (who is at the East office) did leave me voicemail in which she sang to me, and the two gals in the East lab did send me a birthday card..probably because my boss had them sign it. Other than that.....nothing. Each month, our office does a big birthday cake and ice cream party for everyone who has a birthday that month. They somehow forgot to stick me on the birthday list they sent out, and they didn't invite me.
All my outside-of-work friends forgot about me as well. Not a single one did anything.
Tonight was one of my nights to work late. The plan was that when I got off work, I would go to my mom's house to pick up DS, as usual, but then we would have my birthday celebration...my mom, my sister, DS and I.
Now, I should explain something here about presents. Long ago, my mom, sister and I made a pact that when there were gifts to be given, we would either provide a list or tell the other two exactly and precisely what we wanted...and yes, we do have a price limit. This insures that we get what we want. Well, I gave my list out; from my mom, my ultimate gift on the list would have been a gift card from a gas station (to be used when my sweetie comes home and we go on our road trip). From my sister, what I really wanted was a bottle of this fancy vanilla shampoo...the stuff is $9 a bottle and I would NEVER spend that much on myself for shampoo. I even said where the shampoo was, and the price was well below our established limit.
Well, I got off work and went to my moms. My mom had asked me several times if I was SURE I didn't want cake and ice cream. I said no...that I was behaving, and didn't want any. Well....not only did they NOT do that, but they didn't do decorations or anything else....and decorations are a family tradition. They didn't even buy cards...and my mom is a card junkie. Nicholas gave me his presents...a bracelet he made with my sister's help, and a gift card...he and my mom were unable to find the overnight bag I'd wanted. Fine and dandy. Then mom had her present to give. Over a week ago, she asked if I would be okay with a visa gift card instead of a gas gift card...that way, I could use it at any gas station. I told her that was a good idea. Well.....she changed her mind again. She got up and handed me cash. She said that cash would be even easier for me to use than a gift card. She didn't even wrap it or put it in a card or anything. She just handed it to me. Then my sister had her turn. She gave me a package that was nicely wrapped. Inside were three brand new cds I didn't want from bands that I only kind of liked in the 80's. But the cds didn't have any of the songs I liked. She explained that this could be music for my road trip. She spent much more than the darn bottle of shampoo would have cost.
I felt like crying right there and then. What a downer of a day at work...then I come home and I'm let down...why didn't they stick to the list?? But my sister and mom kept asking me if I was SURE I liked the presents, and I lied like a good girl and smiled and said I loved it. Yes, cash is always good, but it seems like my mom could have put SOME effort into my birthday...more than just driving through the ATM. I cried on the way home.
I KNOW that when my close co-worker remembers my birthday, she is going to feel really bad, and that she will make up for it. I know that leaving me out of the monthly birthday celebration at work was just an oversight. I KNOW that being forgotten by my friends was an accident and not done out of any malice. And I know that my mom and sister did what they thought was right, and it's nice of them to at least remember me.
But I'm still crying.
As for my sweetie, he is going to TRY and get online tonight so that we can chat...but he can't promise anything. Of course I don't blame him...he has to do what Uncle Sam says.
On a good note, I've stayed on plan all day. My birthday treat to myself was an iced decaf with a bit of heavy cream and Kahlua-flavored DaVinci syrup.
Oh...and this weekend I'm going wild and I'm BUYING MYSELF THAT SHAMPOO!!!
Thanks for bearing with me...
~JoAnne
Return the CDs, get yourself something you will enjoy. Personally I would tell them how you felt, but thats just me. 
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