In Her Shoes: 25th Birthday

Original Post: 10/2012

Though my birthday was a bit over a month ago, I wanted to share my experience of turning 25 just because it was that awesome.

The original plan was to spend my birthday in Boston. I was going to go on a trip to St. Maarten with my sisters, come back 2 days before my birthday, go to Water Country with friends the day before my birthday and have my mom treat me to a massage and spa day on my actually birthday. A few weeks before my birthday, I told my mom what I would like to do and she basically said she didn’t have the funds to do anything for me. I always do feel for my mother. She has sacrificed a lot of me and has sacrificed now to start her new business (that was the logical person in me). The very human part of me was so frustrated. If you know me, I never make a huge deal about my birthday. Every year my friends are more excited and I just look at it as another day. But that’s because that’s how I grew up. My mom never made a huge deal. I stopped getting presents or special things done for me when I was like 10 (this included every present giving holidays as well). So I learned just not to make a big fuss and never expect anything. I guess I was frustrated because this was the first time I actually asked for something and it was still a “no”.

Anyways, circumstances ended up changing and I had to extend my trip to St. Maarten until 8/27 which means that I would be spending my birthday overseas. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that just because I was going to be away from all of my friends but I was willing to see how it went. I woke up and went to my aunts resort with my sisters. She works at a five star very classy resort and we got to hang out there by the pool and get everything for free. Woot! There was a little bit of a pool party that was interesting to watch. All in all it was a good day of relaxation. I was called out to the stage where all the guests and entertainment sang happy birthday to me which was really sweet but so embarrassing I’m such a shy person that huge gestures like that actually embarrass me. I’m weird, I know.

At the resort with my sisters. They gave me a bottle of wine as a gift

Our cousin, Junior was supposed to come get us at 4pm but by 6pm he was still no where to be found. Our aunt said she couldn’t drive us back because she had to drive other co workers home so she ended up asking her boss to drive us home. Cool. BUT her boss drops us at the top of the hill from the house we were staying where we saw our cousin (who was supposed to come and get us) was standing. Weird place to stop but we got up and switched cars. We’re literally up the street from where we needed to go but our cousin decides to drive us all the way to his house so he can take a shower and get dressed. Made no sense but…whatever. He finally drives us to the house but stops at the gate which is wide open (the gate is never open) and tells me to stay in the car. Finally I emerged when I was “allowed to” and realized there was this huge surprise birthday party for me. Packed yard of people who we met throughout the trip, a live DJ, and lots of food! By far the best thing ever. It was such a good feeling to know that family I have never met, went out of their way to make this day so special for me. The last birthday party I had was when I was 7. I forgot what it was like for other people to make a big deal out of my birthday, to think it was this special to go through tremendous set up and make sure the surprise wasn’t ruined.