Birthdays were one huge annual task for me. They were two huge
annual tasks to be precise, and that too within a span of five days in February.
The budget sheets and estimate sheets I used for annual
planning at work were child’s play compared to the bday.xls file I had created over
the years. It had master-lists for guests, party-item suppliers, invitation formats, party themes, ideas for
return gifts, menu planning, ideas for games, entertainments, pick-and-drop
logistics, cleaning-up, start-be-end-by dates for tasks etc. etc.
And when they went off to boarding school this became
another way to miss them; another vacuum to fill.
The first time one of them was not here for her birthday, I
felt like calling her friends over and celebrating just the same way. But it
would have not made sense. Not doing anything also did not feel correct. It was such a special day for us, I still
wanted to celebrate. Celebrating just by ourselves also didn’t seem enough
because I felt this need to share my happiness and my gratitude for this
wonderful day.
We went to Cheshire Homes. It is a home for physically
disabled girls where they do the awesome job of educating the girls and
training them on work skills; empowering them to build their own live, notwithstanding
their physical challenges.
We bought cake and snacks and had a very simple party with
the girls. But their joy was so touching; it melted away all the loneliness I
had been wallowing in. There were little girls who came running and thanked us
in sign-language, there was another one in a wheel-chair who translated for
them, some managed to grunt their thanks, and some held my hand. They sang the
birthday song for my daughter in words, gestures and thumps on the table.
Happy Birthday, Sweetie! The fairies had come to party for you. They opened
their innocent hearts and sent you their magical wishes.
