#Middlebury #Birthday
By BRIDGET HENRY
In our household, we have a very specific and particular birthday tradition. It all starts the night before when I stay up until the wee hours to decorate the house. As one might guess, decorations always include streamers and balloons but the most important decorations of all are the pictures of the birthday boy. I hang pictures everywhere. There are pictures in the bathroom, pictures down the steps and pictures into the hall. There are baby pictures and school pictures and sports pictures. The entire house is a collage dedicated to the birthday boy.
On the morning of said birthday, everyone (except the birthday boy, of course) is required to wake up early and meet in the kitchen. The four of us find some place to hide in the kitchen and when ready, we make a very particular sound that lets the birthday boy know we are ready. The birthday boy then comes down the stairs, we jump out of hiding to yell “Happy Birthday,” and everyone eats cinnamon buns.
When the kids were little, the tradition was exciting for all involved. The boys loved hiding in the dark to surprise their brother. I loved making cinnamon buns. And of course, it was a very fun way to start the day for the birthday boy.
As the boys got older, the definition of “early” changed as did their ability to fit into the any of the hiding places of their youth. But none of that ever mattered. The Henry Birthday tradition lived on.
Last year, my oldest went off to college and I was worried about birthday tradition. It seemed so odd that his birthday would come and go without the picture collage and without the ceremonial hiding. This was obviously not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things but it was certainly a subtle reminder of the passage of time and how quickly it all goes by.
As luck would have it, I was able to visit my son on his birthday last year. And while the tradition was not quite the same, it was more than enough to be able to celebrate with him in person. This year things are much different and a trip to see him on his birthday was not to be.
This year, we woke our boy up early but it was with a phone call instead. We sent gifts and dinner and cake and texted him some pictures. We tried to make the day as special as possible. But now, we wait in the kitchen for the birthday boy to come home instead of down those steps. When he gets here, you better believe I will make the brothers hide. And of course I will make cinnamon buns.
From change comes new tradition and new reasons to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Aidan Henry. “Woo hoo woot!” We are ready. Hurry home safely! And as always, I am happy to be Somewhere in the Middle (of changing tradition) with all of you.
