Thinking of Piñatas
It’s amazing how we change over the years. Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday, and that’s got me thinking. Thinking about birthdays past and birthdays future. How things were and how they will be. I don’t know why I do it to myself, but on “milestone” days, I always get to thinking.
A few years ago, I would have been out of my mind with excitement on May 18th. I would have been so excited that my birthday was falling on a Friday, so that my party could be on my ACTUAL birthday. And boy, did my parents know how to make me happy. I’m a cornball. I like to play board games and go on walks and that sort of thing. I LOVED sleepovers. So I always had about 10 girls over for a sleepover party. We played board games, jumped on the trampoline, made pizzas (that was SO fun!), watched scary movies, and stuffed ourselves sick with popcorn (Parmesan cheese on top) and birthday cake. My Dad took anyone who was willing on a motorcycle ride. We went for walks in my neighborhood. We opened presents.
The memory I hold dearest is that of my piñatas. Every, single year up until age 18 (my last party), we had a piñata. It didn’t matter how sophisticated the party was (by the age of 18, I only had a few girls over and we went to an expensive Moroccan restaurant and it was AWESOME); the pi�ata was ever-present. And I never felt like a dork. It was corny, but everyone loved the piñata. Getting blindfolded, spun around, and taking a few whacks at a paper maché creation is fun. And, oh God!, the candy! I loved making a dive for the candy. I got to pick the candy every year. It was always a great mixture of chocolate and non-chocolate.
Now, May 18th is just like every other day. Tomorrow will be, too. Somehow, I’ve turned from the excited little girl into a woman who doesn’t want to get older. I don’t want to be 23. 23 is the last year of my early twenties. Good Lord, I’m not ready to be in my mid-twenties. Tomorrow, I’ll probably go out to eat with my family and maybe hang out with a few friends afterward. I’ll probably get a few presents, but it won’t be a big deal. Lot’s of people will probably even forget that it’s my birthday (which is fine by me) because it’s a non-event. 23. Big deal. I can already drive (16), I can already vote (18), I’m a teenager no longer (20), and I can already drink legally (21).
So today, I guess I’m thinking about the future. I’m thinking about future birthdays with my (future) husband; they should be fun. And when I have kids, I’m looking forward to getting painted handprints, drawings, and handmade cards. I’m looking forward to baking cakes and celebrating quietly. I’m looking forward to growing older gracefully, and with someone that I love.
As we get older, I think our own birthdays are less and less important. It’s not our birthdays that we celebrate, but those of our children and our loved ones. I think that I will always make a big deal out of my friends� and family�s birthdays. I certainly know I’ll always throw big parties for my children. And there will always, always be a piñata.
Such a beautiful entry and an early, warm spring happy birthday wish to you, dear Erin!
i can’t believe we will each be turning 23 soon. I feel old, but much like you, young at heart. It’s like everything is just beginning, but when looking over my shoulder, realize I’ve seen and been a lot. And there isn’t anything to be afraid of growing older, for all the sweet, heartwarming things you mentioned are where it’s at and make life worth living.
I haven’t been near a pinata in awhile. In the eighth grade, my Spanish class was required to make a pinata. I made a turquoise blue and bright orange tropical fish. It was a lot of fun.
If you were asked today to fill a pinata, what candies would you include? I’d be partial to dark chocolate, Reese’s Pieces, and red & pink starbursts.
The blog action has been continued wonderful work. congratulations on your assignment as a guest blogger - you will be great!
Hmm… good question! I think I would fill that sucker up with watermelon Jolly Ranchers, Blowpops, and Reeses Pieces (good choice!). Yummy!!!!! Next time we see each other, I’m gonna buy a pinata and we’re gonna fill that sucker up and act like kids, ok??
A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.
~Author Unknown
From one blogger to another: Happy Birthday Erin!
Pura Vida. See you in Tiquicia!
bueno mañana es nuestro cumpleaños :D, jeje mi cumpleaños 23 no fue la gran cosa como vos decís…. con el paso del tiempo la sorpresa y la magia de las pequeñas cosas quedan de lado.
Recuerdo aun ser un niño y jugar con un carro.. y recuerdo también cuando perdí la magia del juego.
Crecer es parte de nuestra vida… y al ir creciendo nuestros gustos y necesidades cambian… así que pues un año más es como cualquier otro dia… es simplemente una buena excusa para pasar tiempo con los amigos, familiares, parejas etc.
Yo por lo menos solo espero salir temprano, disfrutar con mi familia un momentico y esperar para pasar el resto de la noche con la mujer que amo
…. y fijate que casualidad!?!?! ella y yo tambien cumplimos el mismo dia
un beso y felicidades por adelantado
Stop the violence on the poor paper mache animals!! Typically they are a species that prefers warmer, southern climate, however, the few that make their way north often suffer violent and brtual deaths. We must put an end to this slaughter! Donate to the cause, send cash or checks to me. Please make your checks out to “Cash” - the (C)oalition (A)gainst (S)laughtering paper mache animals from (H)umans.