IT happens every time. I generally get a universal response from people when I tell them my date of birth. You see I am neither a Christmas baby, nor a New Year’s baby. Nope, I was born on 29 December – smack dab in the middle of the festive rush.
The improbability and rarity of my birth date always elicits an exciting – “Oh wow! That is amazing!” And then the reality hits them, which changes the excited grin into a look of pity. Inevitably and without fail the pitiful look is followed by a genuine concern regarding the gifts that I receive – or don’t. “Man, you must always get two for one present,” they ask with an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
But the truth is I love my birth date. Sure, there are many cons to my birthday, such as the occasional combined Christmas and birthday present. Or, the fact that many people go away for their festive break or are swamped with the annual Christmas parties, which means that I generally only have a few people who attend my birthday parties.
I always try and organise a party a week in advance, but even then I might have better luck trying to keep the cat away from the enticing tinsel dangling from the Christmas tree.
However, the pros outweigh the cons. Firstly, there is the amazing festive and overall happy atmosphere that is always wafting in the air at this time of the year. And I get to enjoy that on my birthday! The beautiful Christmas decorations and excitement of the Christmas holidays just makes my birthday extra special. Maybe that would be a con if I was a Christmas Scrooge.
Secondly there is the fact that I will never have to work on my birthday. With the festive shutdown period most companies close shop during that time of the year. So, you can keep your middle of the year birth dates.
Furthermore, my birth date is so unusual that family and friends rarely forget it. Even with the festive rush, I always seem to get a flood of birthday calls and wishes.
