Happy birthday again

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA—

 Twenty-three years ago at 8:09 AM  Central time my daughter Amanda was born—or  more accurately  removed and became a full participant in this reality.  All my children have achieved miraculous  things not the least of which has been surviving my parenting—and I use the term loosely.  

In terms of. Finding peace and joy—notice I didn’t say. Seeking—parenting has been  the strangest. Part of the ride in many ways.  It has sure taught me the most lessons and as difficult as it is  to be a parent some days....  I could not be the person I am without the  treasure chest of lessons this role has given...

However, this.entry isn’t so much about  parenting as it is about  Birthdays and how we celebrate them.   

Let’s start with  Cake—

In my youth and until not so long ago I used to  like. Birthday cakes of almost every kind except for cocoanut  and German chocolate.  In recent years, birthday cake gives me heartburn.  Oh, what’s that I should blow out the candles and take them off before eating the cake?  Alright I’ll try that.  Speaking. Of that the most candles I have ever seen on a cake is 71 when my brother turned 11 and my Grandfather turned 60 and we celebrated with the same cake.  Somehow  they all were placed on the cake and lit.  Between the two of them blowing and spitting out candles, I’m not  sure the frosting maintained it’s original flavor—oh well.  

So ...what do we really know about  birthdays and cakes?   

Well you often get a free mini-cake at your favorite restaurant  after the staff comes out and sings some version of  the birthday song and most people in the English speaking world know the song, however, many do not know that the cake came before the song which. Was written by two sisters from Kentucky  in 1893.    I wonder what  people said or sang. Before that song?   I suspect when someone got to be my age back in those days the crowd could have belted out. “On top of old Smokey” because there would have been quite a blaze if people Just sat around staring.  What songs should be  offered  up.   

In doing some. Quick research—about. Birthday and other cakes it seems the first reference to “birthday” cake was in about 1785, however further research  suggested that the Roman, maybe in the 8th or 9th century  had a version of  birthday cake and a tradition of offering that cake on birthdays.  Further,  it appears that  the sweet type of cake we think of today probably originated in  the 1400s in Germany—-you guessed it—it was likely.German. Chocolate.”

Now  I read some more because I wanted to find out about the whole candle thing.   The same  likely originated in Ancient Greece so  the history of  cakes is completely in  doubt as far as I. Am concerned.     The most expensive birthday cake  that incorporated diamond-encrusted icing was valued. At about $75 million.  With a cake like that  you wouldn’t need to wish for anything except for maybe a “to go” box.  

There is some dispute regarding the. Largest birthday cake.  Some  attribute the largest cake to a birthday and  say it was also used. As part of a wedding.  No matter I say.  The  cake was measured at approximately 22 feet tall.  However, this monster was not as tall as the tower of cupcakes that holds the record at  nearly 40 feet tall and combined some 18,818  cupcakes.  Holy  happy  birthday Batman that’s a lot of  those little paper cake holders.  Now that pales in comparison to the tallest cake ever constructed.  It was a “Christmas” cake and skyrocketed up to 108 feet tall.  

I would love to know what. Type of cement. Mixer truck was used to. Put ice cream  down by that cake.    

NowI could go on and. On about birthday and other cakes but there is a national cake day in. November so I’ll hold off.  I do want to get to he implications for peace and joy.

We use  cake to celebrate the. Birth of people who contribute to our lives.  I wonder if one day. Of celebration. A year is. Enough for the really  key contributors to our. Peace and joy?   So many times we limit our gratitude  for folks because. Hallmark says “this is  the day”—-Well .... screw that—I propose that anytime you see a birthday cake  and the staff comes out  to dance in a line and sing whatever hideous. Version of the song they choose, we all whisper the names of three people we would like to celebrate that day and every day.  What the heck, the next time you see any cake in any context—even a ho ho or a ding dong—think of someone to celebrate.  Maybe do the same each time we light any candle not just the ones on a cake.  You see seeking peace and joy means recognizing  the good things in life—-especially the gifts that come ion the  form of our fellow humans.  

So today when I think of the 23 candles on my daughter’s cake...I’m going to  think of 23 people I am privileged to know and challenge you to do the same.

Happy Birthday Amanda