My Happy Birthday

All of us are always looking forward to our birthdays year after year. We planned it with anticipation and wishful thinking that someone will give us something memorable on that day. As a young child in the Philippines I am always looking forward to have something new like cool toys or clothes. Mother always cooks pancit (noodles) or sweet spaghetti. The long stranded noodles symbolize a longer life ahead for the celebrant. Binignit, bud-bud, biko and if you get lucky a kilo or two of lechon from Willi’s lechon house will surely make anyone’s birthday a grand celebration. I am not a sociable person but when my birthday comes it is always well attended. You don’t have to be a sociable when you have all your cousins and neighbors numbering more than 50. Inviting people to come to your birthday has never been an issue so much more on what kind of food you have to prepare. In Maryland it is somehow quite different. Food is very affordable, you don’t have to save for more than 6 months for a party. But when there is abundance of food here comes the restriction. When you serve food on a party you have to be mindful of people who have allergic reactions to peanut, dairy and seafoods. So far these are the only restrictions I have encountered. We don’t have like these in the Philippines and if we do, we don’t really mind it all. People who have allergic reactions to food already know what food to avoid. The responsibility is more on the person attending the party and not the host. The safest that you could bring at school (if you are planning to have a celebration at school) are potato chips and water. It will be more of the teacher’s responsibility if there are children with allergies. This is also why parents should confirm invitation to a birthday party if their child is with a known food allergy. It really is such a hassle that is why thru the years birthday celebrations of my own kids are only held at home and invite people whom you really know. In a land where there is a lot of racial and cultural diversity we really need to be mindful of what we do because it might unknowingly hurt other people and worst you might get sued or in get trouble. But in spite off everything what matters most is that the celebrant will have the time of his life. The joy of seeing yourself/or your child having fun on that day will be worth the trouble. Who cares about allergies, it’s my birthday and I will have fun…