Comments on: A belated thank-you to my 11th grade AP English teacher, and ruminations on a birthday http://wordshepherd.com/2008/12/a-belated-thank-you-to-my-11th-grade-ap-english-teacher-and-ruminations-on-a-birthday/ Editor and writer, stalwart and fink. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:10:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David http://wordshepherd.com/2008/12/a-belated-thank-you-to-my-11th-grade-ap-english-teacher-and-ruminations-on-a-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-5 David Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:22:35 +0000 http://wordshepherd.com/?p=47#comment-5 Oh dear. Once I allegedly forgot a partner's birthday. I think it's safe to say there is no redemption from THAT. But you, my friend, are safe. Your path is clear and easy: as it is the holiday season and I will soon visit Asheville, you have two options. One: Do as my parents have often done and roll all birthday fetes into holiday fetes, with an attendant doubling of the celebration, of course. Two: Buy me a drink next time you see me. To answer your question about what I THINK of such friends, I don't really care. People know that I don't make a big deal out of my birthday, aside from cake-related absurdities. I likewise cultivate friendships with people who don't much care either. The date's not important to anyone but my mother, who 30 years ago marked that day in a very specific and memorable way. If I hold you to felicitations on the 8th only, it's no better than pinning all your romantic hopes on Valentine's Day, which is to say that it is like the terrorists winning. Also, if I am flexible on the date, I get more good times. This very weekend I am meeting up with an old friend to celebrate. This way, my birthday can last all the way through December, and I think that's more fun. Oh dear. Once I allegedly forgot a partner’s birthday. I think it’s safe to say there is no redemption from THAT. But you, my friend, are safe. Your path is clear and easy: as it is the holiday season and I will soon visit Asheville, you have two options.

One: Do as my parents have often done and roll all birthday fetes into holiday fetes, with an attendant doubling of the celebration, of course.

Two: Buy me a drink next time you see me.

To answer your question about what I THINK of such friends, I don’t really care. People know that I don’t make a big deal out of my birthday, aside from cake-related absurdities. I likewise cultivate friendships with people who don’t much care either. The date’s not important to anyone but my mother, who 30 years ago marked that day in a very specific and memorable way. If I hold you to felicitations on the 8th only, it’s no better than pinning all your romantic hopes on Valentine’s Day, which is to say that it is like the terrorists winning. Also, if I am flexible on the date, I get more good times. This very weekend I am meeting up with an old friend to celebrate. This way, my birthday can last all the way through December, and I think that’s more fun.

]]> By: wls3 http://wordshepherd.com/2008/12/a-belated-thank-you-to-my-11th-grade-ap-english-teacher-and-ruminations-on-a-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-4 wls3 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:57:06 +0000 http://wordshepherd.com/?p=47#comment-4 I'm not sure what I did, but I seem to be able to comment of your blogs now. So, what you think of your seeming friends who forget it is your birthday altogether? It's fair to say that such people are safe from spewing obligation, yet at the same time, are not "happy" about forgetting. Where is their redemption? I’m not sure what I did, but I seem to be able to comment of your blogs now.

So, what you think of your seeming friends who forget it is your birthday altogether? It’s fair to say that such people are safe from spewing obligation, yet at the same time, are not “happy” about forgetting. Where is their redemption?

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