A happy birthday that was

My 2008 birthday cake, black and white forest

It’s normal when I get birthday greetings as early as 1st of July. Sometimes advance and belated greetings traditionally become alike, since some are saying ‘belated’ when it’s actually still a week before the exact date. I don’t see any problem, anyway greetings come within the timeline: it’s still within July. And I shall not be surprised as I get greetings on the 17th of August, that’s exactly a month after the correct date of my natal day. Anyhow, nothing beats the warm greetings coming from family and friends, right? On the other hand, I have friends who don’t observe birthdays for religious reason (they consider it as a pagan belief; but religions aren’t supposed to ruin friendships). Hence, they have their means of remembering my natal day.

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I had my first birthday celebration away from the Philippines, away from so many people and stuff that I am used to being with as I do celebrate since then. It was a working (usual) birthday for me and I incidentally had real aching muscle pains. I opted to see it as a coincidence, maybe the improper sitting positions/posture and other unhealthy habits were accumulated and coincided to the untimely aching pain at the right back-shoulder. At the night of my birthday, salonpas patches eased it for a while. Yesterday my post-birthday celebration was set and I tried ignoring the pain, mind over matter worked.

I invited 15 guests or so, from the office and old and new friends off-work to celebrate with me over lunch at home. It was a simple yet fun-filled celebration as we feast on Filipino food: pansit sotanghon (for long life!), kare-kare, tokwa’t baboy in tausi, lumpiang sariwa, lemon-marinated fried chicken, grilled pork barbecue, fruit salad and cake for dessert. I had the black and white forest cake from Mr. Baker (the best cakehouse around) instead of the planned ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins, I didn’t know it’s generally closed during fridays, which is prayer day in the Gulf (opens at 2pm which is way late for my celebration).  Incidentally, two of my guests brought three flavors of London Dairy ice cream.

In between the chit chats were funny antics as we watched telenovela (not on purpose, but was airing then) and TV Patrol via TFC. It felt real good to being gathered with Filipinos especially when we were real time watching the news back home: politics, showbiz, etc.

Many thanks for the greetings back home and elsewhere. It’s heartwarming to be remembered especially that I’m away, nostalgic, ey? To those who celebrated with me, many thanks. And of course, thank you for the presents. Lovely flowers (love the colors), sweets (yay), a mind-boggling book (I’m excited to read, I’m reminded of my book queue), and perfumes (I’m thinking that they thought I fancy perfumes, I got three. Interesting scents!). But more than these, I thank you all for the gift of time you have given me.

More photos here.