For the dverse prompt.
Perhaps it was a special day once, I forget, and for as long as I can remember, it has not had much significance. A smile, a gift and a cake. What more was there? Special celebrations with guests and noise have always been collective not individual, whatever that says about me and how I was brought up. I prefer it that way.
chicks hatch fly
the sky as bright for all
as wide the ocean
Thoughts, projects and life
A fine WordPress.com site
Literary matters Politics Modern World History
Book Blogger, Poetry and Fiction Writer.
A place filled with mostly unfinished stories. Begun primarily as a direct result of my association with the OC Writer's Guild
Poetry, story and real life. Once soldier, busnessman, grandfather and Poet.
this & that
A.I. Art and Poetry
Roaming, at home and abroad
Join Us: #TankaTuesday ็ญๆญ ็ซๆๆฅ
Taotalk is a forum for the discussion of both the academic and pragmatic aspects of dao and Daoism, with participants expressing themselves on Daoist writings and pragmatics from their unique perspectives. It serves as a community for Daoists, and those interested in Daoism, to gather and talk dao.
Writer of children's literature, short stories and poetry
We're all on a road to somewhere.
Under the Sea!
Words from the poemetry unit
The Blog about everything and nothing and it's all done in the best possible taste!
A trip through life with fingers crossed and eternal optimism.
~ Communicator, WordSmith, Artist, Guide, Mentor, Muse ~
I come closest to succeeding by sharing.
โ๏ธ๐๐ผโจ๐ธ
Places, books & other diversions
Poetry and Images
A blog by Billy Mills
or a White Other or an Eastern European
Jane Dougherty Writes 
You’re like me. Happy birthday, Jane, and many happy returns.
What a wonderful wish. For you. For all of us.
Thank you, I’ll take some of your birthday wish in advance. Mine isn’t yet, I’m just obeying orders for the prompt, but it doesn’t really matter does it?
Ha. And I thought you were for real.
Well, it is. Just not today ๐
I feel that way now, Jane, although I am excited about seeing Ellen and Lucas next week โ no crowds, just us and reading to Lucas or playing with him is all I need.
I had so many years of worrying about children’s birthdays and whether they were happy that it has cut me adrift from any memories I might have had of my own birthdays. I’m not complaining ๐
๐
We always make a big deal of our kids and grandkid’s birthdays, and I make sure my wife’s birthday is special (we rent a house at the ocean, and family & friends spend the weekend),, but mine not so much.
Keeping children happy has been enough for me.
Ah yes there come a time when they will fly, take it from an empty nester
Happy Monday
Muchโlove
Thanks Gillena ๐ And happy Tuesday (just)!
Some people love being the centre of attention, and some don’t. Cake is good, though.
That is very true ๐
We all sense when itโs time to fly from something, the trick is to recognize it, act on it, and accept it
Yes, you’re right. hanging on can be simply selfishness.
Holidays, birthdays, etc. have their worth in the gathering of the loved ones. You capture that very well in your haibun.
Thank you. It’s easy for ‘celebrations’ to turn unpleasant. We get upset easily, I know in the excitement children do, if it isn’t exactly right.
I share a bit of your sentiments, Jane. I prefer a quiet birthday myself, only in the company of close friends and family. No parties either! Hahaha.
“chicks hatch fly
the sky as bright for all
as wide the ocean”
So beautifully divine. I feel the theme here is a range of possibility can occur in our reach (i.e. the sky is the limit). Very profound, meaningful and especially raw with its meaning. Such a lovely haiku. Excellent, excellent take on the prompt.
Thank you. I think we all want to do what’s best, and possibly our children will be selective about what they remember of our efforts.
It’s so interesting to read others opinions, preferences and wishes for birthdays. I love the way your haiku echos yours, reiterating in the language of nature.
Thank you, Mish ๐ I’m behind in visiting. I’ll call by asap!
I can relate, Jane. ๐ Nicely done!
Thank you!
Cake is good, and is the happiness of the chicks. ๐
That’s the main thing ๐
๐
My children had Birthdays, every year… growing up I only remember one, as a teenager, that a friend planned for me, a surprise. Something definitely shifted between my childhood and my children’s. (K)
I did very few birthdays for my children. The eldest had parties but once the others arrived I was just too tired to want even more kids racing round the place. We always had a family celebration though. I think my mother was the same. It’s just too much like hard work and usually somebody ends up injured or sick.
Yes, I only had two to worry about.
We were always told by a friend who only had one, how much easier it was for us. We could let ours entertain one another while they had to do the entertaining themselves. I suppose I see the logic in that, if you consider that bringing up children in entirely keeping them ‘entertained’.
I’ve had a similar experience. I always made a fuss over my daughter’s birthday. Though I quickly learned the trick of having classroom parties. Cake, ice cream and pizza. But for me, I would rather the peace and quiet. Well said Jane๐.
Pat
Thanks Pat. It seems as though many of us have vague or nonexistant memories of childhood birthdays but made sure our children had them sometimes at least.
So true;๐
Once out of childhood, my birthday celebrations weren’t so much about the attention as they were about the company, and even then (when it occurred) that was just family – siblings, parents. My ex thought it was a great idea to have a party on my fiftieth. I just didn’t get it. For one thing, 50 (or any of the decades) meant nothing to me. For another, somehow she had not figured out that I didn’t crave attention. I’ve always been happy with a nice quiet observation of my birthdays. A smile and cake.
Some people also don’t think they’re having a good time if there isn’t a lot of noise, music and laughter. Especially laughter. We all have to be making ourselves ache with laughter otherwise we’re not happy. You’re either like that or you’re not.
Have another piece of cake ๐
I must admit I have a hobbit’s joy for birthdays, though mine often goes barely noticed by me or anyone. I guess lately, though, after heart attacks and surgeries, each year becomes an accomplishment. I think that’s why my siblings make a point of contacting me these days. And I’m thankful. The thing about hobbit birthdays is that gifts are received and given by the birthdayed person. I haven’t really gotten that to catch on, however.
It’s a good way of offloading unwanted previous birthday presents.
I grew to hate celebrations of any kind. We have five children and have only ever had the money for essentials, and essentials didn’t include new clothes, holidays or the latest must have that was doing the rounds. We were all (we still are) dressed from thrift shops and the flea market which is where the furniture came from too. Trying to give them a good time at birthdays and Christmas used to make me sick with worry. I hate the imposition of spending, buying that is supposed to make our economy ‘healthy’.