One of my favorite lines from 16 Candles is near the end where Sam’s parents realize they forgot her birthday. They apologize, and during that scene, her younger brother comes from another room and starts laughing and just says, “Classic.”
I forgot my own birthday. Sort-of.
Tomorrow is my birthday. June 10th. By the way, readers, if you want to start sending me presents, I’m more than willing to provide you with my home address. Many may argue it’s dangerous to do this, but those many aren’t gift lovers like I.
The plan was that my mom was going to do some work in the city while my dad drove up to my place, dropped off a cake and then we would head to the restaurant. I think my mom was going to take a cab.
Reservations were at 6:30, and my dad was supposed to be at my place by six. This weekend there are four major festivals going on in Chicago and the city is nuts with traffic. My folks live three hours away, so I started calling at four, just to get a read on their progress. I called both cells, and got voicemails.
I kept calling for two hours, up until 6pm. This was very weird, and I couldn’t figure out what was happening. My dad was not at my place. Nobody was answering their phones. I started mildly freaking out, and tried my sister in NYC. Couldn’t get her. Called the girlfriend in ATL. No answer. Nobody to talk me off the ledge.
I jumped in my car, because it’s about thirty minutes to the restaurant. Maybe I misheard and that I was supposed to drive myself there. I was half-worried that my folks had perished in one of those carbon minoxide house-deaths or in a horrible car accident. I’m also half-pissed because my rational mind tells me they’re fine, and that they just aren’t answering their phones.
I showed up at the restaurant, valeted the car, and hung out in the super-trendy lobby. 6:30 came and went. I kept calling – no answer. Finally, at 6:45pm I decided to look at the itinerary my mom emailed me. By the way, dinner reservations do not require a TripIt itinerary.
It took forever to log-in to TripIt, which I really don’t use, but apparently my mom thinks is the cat’s meow. And there it showed our dinner reservation for June 10th, my actual birthday.
I thought to myself, “Oh – June 10th. That would make more sense that they’d come up on June 10th. Because June 10th is my birthday, not June 9th.”
I cut a deal with the valet guy to only pay half. As I got into my car he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sonja Rois says:
For my 33rd birthday I totally forgot about it BEING my birthday. Ok, it was more like, I didn’t remember what the date was until my dad showed up at my door. I asked what he was doing there and he just looked at me strange and told me it was my birthday. In my own defense, I was working midnights and lost track of “days” all the time because of it.
CarrieSieffert says:
Birthdays. Psh. A reminder that no one is eternal or immortal.Screw you birthdays. Screw you.
Oh, Happy Birthday yo. I hope it’s a good one and you don’t flip out about your ever accumulating years.
D.J. Paris says:
@CarrieSieffert Once again, you’re super old.
JW Moxie says:
Just stop feeling sorry for yourself; IT’S BAD FOR YOUR COMPLEXION!
D.J. Paris says:
@JW Moxie But, black don’t crack! Oh wait, I’m not black.
wilyguy says:
Happy Birthday!
D.J. Paris says:
@wilyguy Thanks!
Katjaneway says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (I would have done the same exact thing as you!)
D.J. Paris says:
@Katjaneway Thanks for the b-day wishes!
Craziness Abounds says:
No worries. I think everyone has confused appointments or times before. I know I sure have. At least a 100 times before. Happy Birthday!
D.J. Paris says:
@Craziness Abounds I did the same thing yesterday (when I went to a non-pool party thinking it was a pool party).
The Outlaw Mama says:
Happy birthday. I love that you know the proper use of english language: “not gift lovers like I.” Few people can do that. Blues Fest can suck it. SO can the traffic.
D.J. Paris says:
@The Outlaw Mama Is that proper? I had no idea. I end sentences in prepositions, put commas in the wrong place, and many other mistakes. Glad I nailed that one.
R says:
@tfpHumorBlog It should be “like me.” Sorry! 😀
Shiftless Mommie says:
I think in the spirit of your birthday you should still blame this on all the people who didn’t answer their phones.
Cheeky valet.
D.J. Paris says:
@Shiftless Mommie Oh, I did. My family needs to revolve more around me. It’s simply the right thing.