My birthday just went by recently. Ironically my birthday celebration with my wife’s family was the night before my actual birthday. My wife had that day off and her family could come over that evening. Of course being an adult and having a job I had to work while my wife and her relatives were celebrating. I was able to attend the last hour or hour and a half before people started leaving.
I missed the dinner part of the celebration, but I got home in time for cake and ice cream. The meal was lasagna and garlic bread. Most of it got eaten but there were leftovers for me when I got home. But the cake and ice cream was untouched. For me and a couple other people, there was a sugar-free Red Velvet cake and chocolate cupcake for everyone else. The cupcakes went over well and about half of the cake was eaten by the end of the night. The ice cream of choice was Moose Track and Chocolate ice cream. We had both in case someone didn’t like Moose Track.
Some of you may be wondering “What did you get for your birthday?” That is irrelevant. I already have what I want most of all. Someone on this Earth that will love me unconditionally and never leave, that’s what I wanted most of all. I have that in my wife. All I could put on my wish list was gift cards and money to help make ends meet.
The card I got from my mother and father in-law along with the card from my parents almost made me want to tear up. My in-law’s card gave me warm feelings. The card from my parents came on the day of my birthday. It gave feelings of warmth, but also of shame.
I knew they loved me dearly, but the words of the card hit so hard that I felt ashamed being so far away. Along with the fact my father is allergic to cats and I got Yoda makes it seem like I don’t want them to even come visit my residence. In hindsight, I realize I should’ve asked them for help sooner when I just married my wife and lived up in Northern Michigan.
But I now know how she felt when we were living there. Family so far away, zero local friends or acquaintances, and not having a clue how to make new ones. I feel that way now.