Birthdays and Holidays

You know that scene in "When Harry Met Sally" when Meg Ryan sobs "And I'm going to be forty...one day!"

Well, I'm going to be 50...next week. How did that happen? Okay, I know how it happened and as my late father used to say, "It beats the alternative." But seriously, it seems it wasn't that long ago I was sitting in the clubhouse of my apartment complex. celebrating age thirty with my friends. And yes, it bothers me that I can no longer remember the name of the apartment complex.

I'm trying to come to grips with this. It doesn't seem to bother Rachel much. On the way to grandma's the other day, she told complete strangers in the checkout line, "Nana is 75....and daddy is almost 50 and mommy is almost 46." When told that one day she would be that old, Rachel responded, "not for a very long time!"

Rachel can't wait to turn five. Remember that age? No bills, no responsibilities. You just hoped you didn't receive a bunch of clothes for gifts and looked forward to having a party with all your classmates.

Many of Rachel's friends have these lavish parties. I didn't mind the one at the Little Gym with the balance beam and tumbling. The party at the bowling alley was okay too. But these parties where all the girls put on makeup as princesses and march around outside...Well, let's just say we are doing everything we can to stave off Rachel becoming a princess.

And Hanukkah plays a role here. It really is a rather minor Jewish holiday, but because of Christmas, it's been hyped up. We had some nice moments. Our menorah was actually one Rebecca and Rachel made at school. You know the clay pots you buy for plants at Home Depot or Lowe's. Think the smallest size, like you'd buy for a doll. They glued those down upside down, attached metal nuts atop them and then put the candles in the nuts. The base of the menorah was painted and included Rachel's handprints. And then when we lit the candles this year, Rachel was old enough to sing the Hebrew prayers. It gave me joy.

But even at this age, you have to watch for greed. Rachel is inundated with all these toy commercials and every commercial break would say two to three times, "I want that." Grandma told her it would be better to say, "That's on my list." Apparently, that list is now longer than our house is wide. We bought a gift for a needy child off a giving tree, trying to impart the value of giving.

However, one day, Rebecca bought Rachel a Hello Kitty hoodie for after a bath as well as two Hello Kitty towels. That night, we lit the candles and I pulled out one tiny wrapped present that was a bell for her bicycle's handlebars. Before she even opened it, Rachel exclaimed, "That's what I'm talking about!" We were not amused. That is an attitude we refuse to cultivate. It is an attitude we are seeing more and more. And we will get it out of her if it takes months!

Back to me, I have finally wrapped my mind around turning fifty. I have a daughter who keeps me young. I have a wife I adore and who loves me. As Rachel slept in a restaurant booth last night, I gazed at her, looked at my wife and said, "I can't get over it. We love each other and because of it we did that (pointing to Rachel), with some help (pointing to the sky.)" I was doubly swelled with thanks. First, for the blessing of Rachel. Second, for the blessing Rachel was asleep, so I could talk to my wife uninterrupted!

The only hitch is what awaited me when I opened the mailbox the other day. Just when I was accepting this birthday, here was an invitation to join the AARP. If you need me, I'll be curled up in a ball in the corner.