Happy Birthday to Me

Today I celebrated my birthday and it was today as it always has been, a very special day.
When I was younger, it was special because I got a special gift and a cake and ice cream where everyone in the room sang happy birthday, gave me my special present and a good time was had by all.
When I got older, I asked my mother for pizza instead of a cake, I think it was something that I saw on an Archie comic book cover but my mother who was always a good sport went the extra mile and not only gave me a pizza for my birthday but made it from scratch with all of my favorite toppings. She did this for the rest of my childhood and teen years.
Because we had such a big family and I had few friends, I never had a birthday party and have only had three in my entire life. As I got older, I discovered the the real importance of birthdays and the real gifts that we receive.
A birthday is a celebration of one of the most important days of our life, the day we left the protection of our mother's womb and began our life in the outside world. The day we went from being an expectation to a person it must be and should be the greatest day of our life.
As for gifts the greatest ones we receive are the ones from those closest to us . My parents gave me the greatest gift of all, they gave me life and made me the person that I am. My sisters gave me the love of siblings. All three of them would do anything for me and I them. They would rush to my side if and when I am in need. My family gives me family love that couples praise with criticism. My love for my wife and daughter is unconditional as is their love for me. This is a gift that is priceless and like many gifts is returnable.
My friends give me the gift of friendship that goes beyond all boundaries and is requited . My friends give me both support and criticism they share in my good times and bad. There has never been a time when they did not come when I needed them and made me feel better than I did before they came. sometimes they say everything sometimes nothing.
I received the gift of writing from my grandmother who could always spin a good yarn on the front porch of our house. She told me that all is possible with faith not just faith in a higher being but yourself. She like my parents gave me the gift of learning and the love of learning.
When I think about this birthday, I am happy to say that my cup runneth over with gifts and will never become empty.
Happy birthday to me.