The Big One Oh

Posted on the 15 May 2013 by Rarasaur @rarasaur

I have bad luck birthdays.  Burglaries, muggings, fires, car accidents, and bodily injuries have hallmarked my special day for years.  The day is jinxed, or perhaps I am jinxed– but whatever it is, there’s no resolving it.

When I was young, I still had hope that I’d turn this bit of rough luck around.  And I never tried harder than right before my 10th birthday.

This was a big one.  I wasn’t about to spend my big 1-0 with a doctor or police officer, so I carefully laid out plans for a party and practiced positive thinking.

“This is going to be the best birthday ever.”

Right before my birthday, though, I was attacked by my dog.  My face was torn up, but I didn’t care.  The party was happening, and everyone was going to be happy, darn it.

The silver lining was that my family was traumatized. They slowed their normally fast-moving pace to a slow crawl and stayed home to be with me and my healing face.

“My whole family will be here for my birthday,” I thought, “This is going to be the best birthday ever.”

Since everyone was in town, my mom decided to drive me to a local flower farmer on the morning of my birthday.  We went to visit and pick bushels of my favorite flowers.

On the way there, we were hit by a car speeding down the freeway.  We were able to squeeze out of our broken car pretty much unscathed, but news spreads quickly in a small town and soon there were plates of cookies and snacks at our door.

“Look at all this free, delicious food that my family who is staying home gets to eat now.” I exclaimed. “This is going to be the best birthday ever.”

My family kindly suggested we reschedule the party, but I was determined.  I was walking around the house, muttering my new mantra, and absolutely nothing was going to stand in the way of the best birthday ever.

That night, a storm blew through town and knocked out our power.  None of my friends could brave the road.  No phone calls from family could come in.  It was just my immediate family in a dark room, sitting around a big table.

“Look at all this free, delicious food that we’re going to be able to share by candlelight because we’re all here!” I told everyone. “This is going to be the best birthday ever!!!”

My parents dutifully went around the room lighting candles.  We ate dinner more quietly than normal–all of us a little afraid of causing any more catastrophes.   It was a calm, peaceful dinner.

When it was time for cake, my dad opened a box of candles and put exactly 10 in the cake.  He carefully lit them and returned to his chair.  When he sat down, the candles went out.

He stood up to relight them, but they had already started flickering again.

My sisters began to giggle.  My older brother laughed and said, “These must be novelty candles!”  He reached over to read the back of the box when the candles started flickering like crazy– sending little bits of spark and fire all over the room.

We ducked under the table as my dad annihilated my cake in an attempt to put out the flames.

I was trying to stay positive, but I was pretty much at the end of my rope.  My bottom lip pouted.  I could feel tears forming.

Then my baby brother took hold of my hand from under the table.  “Rara gets fireworks?!” he shouted with the type of uninhibited excitement only a 4-year-old can muster.  “It’s the best birthday ever!!!”

And as I laughed with my siblings under the table, I realized that he was absolutely right.

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This is for you.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has participated in Prompts for the Promptless.  You guys have made it a blast to host, and since 12 episodes marks the end of Season 1, I thought this was the perfect time to thank you.  

I know some of you love badges, so I’ve made one that you deserve.  It applies to every single participant of Prompts for the Promptless.  Feel free to display it with pride or to just smile at it and move on.  Let me know if you need it in a different size or shape.

You are the best.  

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Speaking of Prompts for the Promptless, did you catch all the entries from this week? They are fabulous!