Another Year Older – Retirementally Challenged

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Having an early January birthday has often meant celebrating indoors. When I was young, I envied those summer babies who could mark their special day with a beach bash or pool party. Following so closely after all the winter holiday celebrations, my birthday often felt like an afterthought… one that wasn’t necessarily welcome.

Although my parents made a big effort to make the day special for me, I would have preferred that they had put more thought into when I was conceived… sometime in November, rather than April would have given me the summer birthday I longed for. Sheesh.

Up until four years ago, January 6^th was best known for being the day of Epiphany, or the Twelfth Day of Christmas. I’m not religious, but I liked the idea that my birthday was celebrated in many countries with merry making, feasting, and the consuming of Three Kings Cake. I also liked that the word Epiphany means a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or become conscious of, something. A sudden insight or intuitive understanding. An “aha!” moment.

In the U.S., January 6^th is now also remembered for a darker reason, one that I’d rather not share my birthdate with. It has become not only a date, but a heartbreaking description, something like September 11.

Four years ago, a few days before January 6^th became more than just a date on most people’s calendars, I wrote a silly poem about my birthday. I had meant to post it on my blog, but as that day’s events unfolded, I was too shocked and saddened to do much of anything.

As I get older, I have had a lot of aha! moments and find myself gaining insights that weren’t clear to my younger self. Although there are some things I’ll never understand, this poem was written as a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the good. I hope you enjoy it.

Epiphany
(or, a Birthday Bitty Ditty)

Epiphany
old bitty me
I’ve gained a year today

Regretfully
with vague ennui
I hoped I could delay

Once fancy-free
oh, where is she
my youth of yesterday

But, by degree
fait accompli
my hair is turning gray

Now hear my plea
don't pity me
I'm feeling no dismay

Oh glory be 
can you not see
I’m old but no cliché

Most certainly
I'm still me
just further in decay

No magic key
no guarantee
I'd make it all this way

But here I be
Oh, lucky me
much more than just okay

Epiphany
strikes suddenly
I'm grateful for this day