Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

A funny thing happens on our birthdays every year. Mine is four days after my husband's, and over time, celebration has eroded. Our birthdays are always glopped together, so it's either on his birthday or mine, or neither. They happen usually over Labor Day weekend, so it's difficult to invite people over, even before Covid. We've often been traveling in the summer so there is no urge to do a trip of any kind, plus the grandchildren are back in school. And when it's a BIG birthday, mine inevitably gets overlooked then the next year we do something special for my husband. Back in the day, this wasn't true. I threw myself an amazing birthday bash when I turned 50: venue, catering, band, 100 people. The next year for my husband we all flew to Victoria B.C. for an even grander and more expensive party, but at least I'd made a fuss about mine. Now, 60, 65, 70 and now 75 for me have gone by without fanfare, though my husband had a great 70th with the whole family away in another state. Part of the problem is we're old and tired, and planning things is so complicated. The same deterioration has happened with our anniversary. We had a great party for our 30th, then when the 40th came along, the planning got so complicated we cancelled. 45? Nothing. In three years our 50th. I'll be grateful just to make it, but I WOULD like to celebrate. But I am certain it will be up to me if anything happens. And will I be up to it? No one knows.