Celebrating Birthdays

I grew up with a family tradition where birthdays were a real occasion for celebration and I carried this on with my family. This month our family has two birthdays to celebrate, one was celebrating the eighth  birthday of my youngest grandson, Mitchell, (seen in the photo with his Dad, my son Grant, and his Grandpa Charles.)

It seems only yesterday that Mitch was a baby - now he's a fine young boy who loves, rugby, soccer, fishing and Reece Marstin. Where does the time go - it seems only yesterday that his father was turning eight!


Mitchell's previous birthdays have been celebrated with a party but now he's growing up his Dad decided on something a bit different to celebrate his special day and asked Mitchell if he'd like to go to the Warrior's game last Saturday and Mitchell was wrapped! They had a ball and certainly celebrated in style the way that families do.


The coming birthday we are celebrating is for my second oldest grandson, Beau, who will be twenty one and that's going to be a real family and close friends affair with all the traditional trimmings. Taking a lead from the Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus who said - "Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words" we will make the occasion an unforgettable one for Beau. Following the 'ancient' traditions my daughter has acquired the obligatory male ritual twenty first symbol - a yard glass - (what would we do without Trademe?) and of course there is the traditional 'key' to the door, (however it will be in a more modern format as with most young adults Beau has been independent for many years and had a key long ago) the cake, presents and much more.

It will be a time for speeches, looking back over the twenty one years and celebrating Beau who we love so much. How fast the years have passed - one minute he was a newborn baby who had to spend some time in an incubator but who being the little fighter he was he took that in his stride and went on to steal our hearts and our love. Now he stands on the threshold of his adult life with all the potential that life offers with all it's choices, decisions, hopes, dreams, responsibilities, frustrations, expectations, sorrow, joy and happiness.

Beau you have your life before you

To make of it what you will

Learn all you can from life's experiences

Be kind to your fellow travellers

You will meet along the way

Listen and hear what they have to say

It might come in handy one day

I wish you much laughter, joy and fulfillment

As you journey on through life

May you follow your heart and find your bliss

Know what it is to be truly contented

And to be brave enough to follow a dream

No matter how crazy, fanciful or extreme

Always  look for the good in others

Always value all that is good in yourself

Be proud of who you are, of what you achieve

Knowing you can create the life you dream of

Because of your inner belief in yourself

I wish you lasting love, the best of health

Much happiness and comfortable wealth

Yes, birthdays are to be celebrated, for from the day we come into the world we make our mark on life. We have the potential to make a difference, to give and receive love, to change things for the better and to leave the world a better place and add a richness to the lives of those we leave behind. Each year that passes is precious, this is not a rehearsal - so take heed for as Abraham Lincoln so wisely said  "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."