Yesterday was my sister’s-in-law birthday, but due to her being
out camping with her big sister and brother-in-law, I celebrated with her this
past Saturday. While we were chatting over lunch, I mentioned something
about needing to get Konnie her birthday gift to her, before I forgot.
Well, Shirley (said sister-in-law) started to say something
then berated herself, saying, “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
I frowned and asked her what was going on and she looked at
me and said, “I was about to ask when Konnie’s birthday is.”
Let me point out that a few years ago Konnie came up here to
celebrate our birthday with me and Shirley, her big sister (Vera-Ellen), and
Vera-Ellen’s husband and daughter, threw the two of us a birthday party. On the
other hand, Shirley does have Alzheimer’s and I found it pretty good that she
remembered that she did know when Konnie’s birthday is before she actually got the
question out.
Now if it had been Vera-Ellen or any of her family, I’d
have questioned their sanity, but Shirley? The one who writes shopping lists
then leaves them at home and tries to get her shopping done without one. Only
to forget the two most important things on her list. Necessitating a second
trip to the store, for which I am the chauffeur.
I will admit, I’m not sure all my in-laws know when my birthday is, even if they all know I’m a twin. However, Shirley, Vera-Ellen,
and Vera-Ellen’s husband and daughter do know. Well, at least Shirley knows
when she remembers.
Vera-Ellen and her family don’t have that excuse.
The rest of the family, well, I’m not even sure when all
their birthdays are. Tom was always very vague about when their birthdays were,
nor did he ever make any effort to call his siblings on their birthdays. Today,
I know some of their birthdays simply because I’m friends with them on Facebook,
and I really should write them down, since Facebook only reminds me the day
of their birthday.
I kind of need a little more notice than that if I’m going
to send them something if I remember and have the money for it. Having money to
send something would be the issue. I’m lucky if I have money to buy something.
Though it did penetrate my thick skull this year that Konnie’s
youngest was born on the birthday of one of my brothers-in-law. Why I didn’t notice
before, I have no idea. But I could swear, this year is the only year Facebook
notified me of both birthdays, which of course doesn’t make sense. Clearly what
is at issue here is my thick, or scattered, brain rather than Facebook messing
up.
At any rate, I can now tell you the birthdays of all three of
Tom’s sisters, and the one brother. So, I am getting closer to knowing them. Took
me long enough. The only trouble is I learned when the birthdays of two of his
sisters before we were even married.
His sister Bonnie was born a day shy of his first birthday,
and the oldest of my brothers was born on his 5th birthday, which makes it easy.
And Vera-Ellen was born on August 22, the year before him. Those three
came in such quick succession that his family always celebrated all three
birthdays on the birthday in the middle, Tom’s. He complained about that when
we first started dating.
I listened to his complaints without a word, when he
finished, I said, “Yeah, I know what’s like to have to share your birthday; I’ve
been doing it my whole life too.”
He responded, “Oh brother, I’m complaining to the wrong
person.”
“Ya think?”
I have always shared my birthday with Konnie. I can think of
one year when we had separate parties simply because she still preferred an all-girls
slumber party, and I wanted a party, with guys, gals, and music.
Which didn’t go over so great. Let’s just say, I also hate
having a birthday so close to a major national holiday. It never fails that
come our birthday, everyone, or almost everyone, is still out of town with
their family.
Konnie had picked the week after our birthday for her party; they turned out for Konnie’s party and didn’t bother to RSVP for mine.
No one did. So, I planned on everyone I invited coming and
had a ton of leftovers. Not a fun night to say the least.
Though maybe I should work that disaster into a story
someday.
Anyway, happy writing everyone, I’m off to do more editing
on my sci-fi!
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