October 13th is the day… But today I MENTIONED to my students that my birthday is looming.  (Naturally I hinted that botox gift certificates would make their English teacher verrry happy.  They [just as naturally] laughed at me). 

Six years ago I started a tradition.  For my birthday, I invite the souls who have helped make my year fabulous and we eat together at The Keg.  The evening usually involves some wine, a few martinis, a great meal and a buzz of chatter.  It is my FAVORITE day of the year.  And whilst they may not know it, while everyone is buzzing and sipping and smiling, I make sure to take a few minutes and look around at each of the faces and think how they’ve impacted my life.  I’ve told them all how much they rock during the year.  But for some reason the silent, inner gratitude is important for me to do.  Often there are different faces around the table.  People who, during the last year, have changed me.  Made me better.  Some are the same year after year.  They continue to teach me things, make me smile, and often indulge me in my day-to-day lunacy.  All I know for sure is that I’m the luckiest person around.

Anyhow, a girl my age doesn’t want gifts for her birthday.  But if I had to make the UBER BIRTHDAY LIST, this is what it would look like:

• A multi-book publishing contract for the YA stuff I’m doing with Kelly Talbot & Paige Wheeler.   
• A room full of MAC cosmetics.  Like enough for me to swim in.
• A Starbucks card (their new ones are cool) with an UNLIMITED load.  (I’d be fat, but happy.)
• Lunch with Bono. 
• Appetizers with Jonny Depp.
• Coupons for a thousand hugs and smooches from my boys. 
• Another year’s lease on my rose colored glasses.
• An invitation to play the character of Carrie Bradshaw’s writer friend on her Sex & The City Movie.  (Well - Actually I think I’d hate to act.  But maybe a silent-extra-writer-friend would do it.)
• Guaranteed Nap Time each day.
• Time.  Ah.  Unlimited Chunks of Time… Just for hanging.  (Who am I kidding.  That would work for about 2 minutes.  But unlimited time to write would be nice.)
• A totally comped trip to the Wynn in Vegas.  Complete with free meals at P.F. Changs.
• Another totally wonderful year with all the people who make my life pretty excellent.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at 7:59 pm. You can leave a comment below.