I’m Older!

by Marinka on April 2, 2012

Hi! I hope that you had a nice weekend. I certainly did.

Because it was my birthday and oh, I love my birthday. I’m one of those rare people who doesn’t bemoan aging, I welcome it. Probably because I’m so old and don’t understand what’s going on, but still. I love it because of the gifts and the adulation and the gifts. Also the gifts. And that whole being alive and family, etc.

But this year was different.

Because my thirteen year old daughter, the eye-rolling teenager, planned everything for my birthday.

She planned the gift. A MacBook Air (I’m BLOGGING ON IT RIGHT NOW, HOW DOES IT LOOK?!) and she planned a surprise party in the evening.

It was supposed to be the seven of us going out to my daughter’s favorite restaurant (she’s no fool. If she’s planning the event, she’s getting the meal she likes.) But you know, me, Husbandrinka, my two kids and stepson and Mama and Papa. Lucky seven. Perfect.

I got an inkling that something may be going on when one of my bestest friends called me in the morning. “Happy birthday,” she said. “What are you doing tonight? I ask because I myself have plans. I will go to see a movie. I haven’t decided which one, but definitely not The Hunger Games, I want to read the book first. What? You’re going out to dinner? Well, have fun! I will be, as previously stated, at the movies.”

But I didn’t really focus on it. It’s not unusual for my friends to tell me where they will be, probably because every second away from me feels punitive.

Until we got to the restaurant and I saw that the table was set for fourteen. Which is more than seven.

“Huh,” I said to Young Ladrinka. “What’s going on?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of any of this,” he shrugged. And then he asked me that since I have a laptop now, maybe the iMac in the living room that I’ve been using can be his and out of respect for everyone else he can move it to his room so as to free some space for the rest of us, or at least delete my account.

And then my friends started to arrive. I was very surprised to see some people and a little *sniff* not to see others, friends I’d have loved to see. (And receive presents from. Kidding. Mostly.)

It was festive and lovely. Papa made a toast that included the phrase “son of a bitch”. Twice. The kids were delighted.

And after dinner was over, some of my girlfriends and I went to have nightcaps and we talked and laughed and I felt so grateful to have such wonderful family and friends and a MacBook Air.

It was a great birthday.

I’m so happy to be 45.

One year ago ...

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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }

JK April 2, 2012 at 7:49 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Marinka!!!!! I’m glad your family and friends were there for you to give you the support you need to entertain the rest of us : ) Wish I had a MacBook. Very nice. They must really love you.

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Kati
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 8:12 am

Okay, Ladrinka is so adorable, he should definitely get the Mac.
And OMGOMGOMG you got a MacBookAir!!!!! I’m so happy for you!! Your daughter is AWESOME!! Can I have her plan my 45th birthday (in 7 years)??

Happy Birthday!!!

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Alexandra April 2, 2012 at 8:48 am

Happy birthday, wonderful Marinka.

For your birthday, I wish I could let you know how many times I came here years ago, when I couldn’t find a thing to laugh about at a very hard time in our lives.

Sorry for the serious, down comment here: but my eyes fill with tears when I think of the mornings you made me spit out my coffee in laughter when it was exactly the medicine the Dr. ordered.

Thank you. Happy birthday. I feel so lucky to have found your blog.

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Ann
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 9:13 am

Happy Birthday. Excited to see you at Erma!

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Carinn @ welcometothemotherhood
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 9:36 am

Happy Birthday fellow March Aries (two marks of perfection for you)! Sounds like one of those weekends that makes all the rest of the bullsh!t seem totally worth it.

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b a seagull
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 9:46 am

Happy Birthday, Marinka. Can your daughter plan my 45th? Oh wait, it was many, many years ago. (you are still a spring chicken)

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Jennifer April 2, 2012 at 10:05 am

Happy Birthday, lovely Marinka!

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Neil
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 10:16 am

Happy birthday, M!

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tracy@sellabitmum
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 10:40 am

Happy Birthday! I just know that you and your new Mac will live happily ever after. What a great birthday! xoxo

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Megan April 2, 2012 at 11:16 am

Oh yeah! Happy Birthday. Your new laptop looks FABULOUS.

Let me know how 45 is… I’ll be there eventually (where eventually means in a few months).

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SFTC
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 12:15 pm

Happy Birthday to the funniest blogger there is!

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magpie April 2, 2012 at 1:18 pm

happy birthday!

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Marta
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 5:38 pm

Happy Belated Birthday!! I too love my birthday, I mean its a day to celebrate ME. Also a macbook air AND a surprise birthday party that’s like the best birthday ever.

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Sleeping Mom April 2, 2012 at 9:27 pm

Happy birthday! And wow, what an awesome gift—a Macbook Air!

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the mama bird diaries
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 10:36 pm

so glad you had a good birthday!

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Yuliya
Twitter:
April 2, 2012 at 11:02 pm

Happy happy birthday (I would mention that my birthday was this weekend too but you may interpret that as thunder stealing so I won’t)

Buy you a drink at Erma?

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Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes April 3, 2012 at 7:08 am

Happy birthday! You lucky Macbook-owning girl!

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anna April 3, 2012 at 7:18 am

happy birthday!

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Twisted Domestic Goddess April 3, 2012 at 7:39 am

Happy late birthday! What wonderful presents from your daughter!

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Anna Lefler
Twitter:
April 3, 2012 at 9:45 am

I love this! Happy birthday, Marinka!!

XOXO

Anna

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Olga
Twitter:
April 3, 2012 at 11:13 am

Happy Birthday! You have such a thoughtful daughter but is that an Abercrombie smell in your apartment? )

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Gretchen April 3, 2012 at 11:26 am

Happy Birthday! Lucky you!

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Jonathan April 3, 2012 at 2:25 pm

LMAO! I always love the videos! What an awesome daughter to put together a surprise party like that, glad you had a great birthday!

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Vicki
Twitter:
April 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm

S’dnem rozhdeniya! Do’ 120ti, or until you get a new MacBook, whichever comes first.

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Rachael
Twitter:
April 3, 2012 at 7:55 pm

Happy Birthday!!!

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