It has been eight years since the first time I ever celebrated Colby's birthday with him. (We'll gloss over those more pathetic early years where I celebrated it without him, yes?) We'd been "officially" dating for about a month and a half at that point, though we'd been dating in all but name for four months prior to that, but things were finally starting to seem a bit more serious, and I was all aflutter.
His parents were coming into town to take him out for a birthday dinner, and he asked me to join them. First, I was overwhelmed by the fact that he was turning 23. TWENTY-THREE!! Oh my goodness, SO OLD, right?!? What does one even talk to a 23-year-old about? They're so worldly and mature. Second, um wait, meeting the parents?? At a fancy dinner? Please God, remember not to crunch your ice, Angela!
That birthday went well, and over the next few years we spent some birthdays together and some apart. And today he turns the big 3-1. Last night, I told him now he's not just 30, he's fully "in his 30s". He looked at me askance and said that he's been in his 30s for a year now. But somehow, 31 just seems so much more official. Like, 30 is your training wheels after bidding adieu to your 20s, and then 31 is when the real 30s start.
He sort of proved my point when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said he didn't really want anything. What?!? Who says that??? Old people, that's who.
Anyway, I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeves for his big day, and he's just going to have to deal with the fact that I don't believe in skipping birthday presents. Ugh, what a hideous precedent to set!
So, happy birthday to my most favorite guy. The one who puts up with all of the crazy that I bring into his life on a regular basis, and somehow still seems to like me an awful lot. I love you so much, and am so glad that we're together to celebrate. I hope thirty-one is better than all the years that came before, and that every year continues to get better and better.
Happy birthday, Colby!
I laughed at the ice crunching part! Haha! I'm so glad that dinner with the inlaws gets much better after those first few times. I was so nervous when we had dinner with my guy's parents and then popped the, "so, we're getting married" bomb on them! I thought I would have a heart attack! I was officially stealing their son away.
Clint says the same thing about not wanting birthday gifts. Boys...
I look forward to hearing what you get Colby!
Posted by: Melissa | March 21, 2011 at 03:13 PM
Happy Birthday Colby!! And I love your theory on 30 v. 31. That means I've still got another year to go!
Posted by: A Super Girl | March 21, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Happy birthday to Colby!
Posted by: To the Nth | March 21, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Maybe Colby would like tickets to the first of the "Atlas Shrugged" trilogy that opens in a couple of weeks on tax day. I saw that you finally read it.
Amazing how a book written almost 60 years ago is so accurate. An almost excerpt of the book/movie follows:
March 21, 2011 10:37 AM UTC by John Stossel
Joe Biden Railroad
It's amazing how modern politics resembles scenes of Ayn Rand's best-seller Atlas Shrugged.
Like the one in which a high-ranking government official pumps millions of dollars into a failing railroad company. The grateful railroad CEO rewards the government official by renovating his hometown train station and naming it after the government official. The renovation costs $5,700,000 more than expected.
Then comes the ribbon cutting ceremony. The CEO gets on one of his trains to go to the ceremony, but it breaks down. No surprise there: One out of every four trains his company runs is late. The CEO, chuckling at the irony, abandons the train and takes a car to the ceremony.
Unfortunately, that wasn't a scene in Atlas Shrugged. It happened this weekend.
The government official is Joe Biden.
Posted by: Old Warrior | March 21, 2011 at 06:54 PM
Tom is turning 34 this weekend and doesn't want anything for his birthday, either...but then again, I don't want much anymore either (my gift for his birthday is that we will be the same age again and he will quit calling me his old lady until December).
Posted by: Jenn | March 21, 2011 at 07:58 PM
i totally love that analogy, 30 is definitely the training wheels age and 31 makes it official, so very true. anyhoo happy birthday colby and hope you two have a lovely evening together.
Posted by: katelin | March 21, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Happy birthday Colby! Hope you guys have fun celebrating.
Posted by: Jessica | March 22, 2011 at 01:17 AM
Awwww! Happy birthday to him!
I will always be able to think of something I want my spouse to get me. ;)
Posted by: Heidi Renée | March 22, 2011 at 05:51 AM
Happy birthday, Colby!
I remember the birthday when all I wanted was a new iron or vacuum cleaner - that's when I knew I was really an adult. :-)
Posted by: Stevie | March 22, 2011 at 05:56 AM
Belated happy b-day wishes to Colby! I just know Angela picked out something nice.
Posted by: Kate P | March 23, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Happy birthday to Colby, I hope he had a wonderful day!
Posted by: Emily Jane | March 23, 2011 at 02:39 PM