50th birthday came and went and not one black balloon

[bmccasland]

I suppose this is what I get for moving around a lot, the people that might have known it's my 50th aren't anywhere near here - and none of them bothered do something long distance. I've plotted and scheemed for various people's special days - baby showers, birthdays, etc. But my 50th birthday came and went with not one black balloon. My pen-friend in Paris was sending me the timely Garfield comics - about getting older. And I went to see my sister in North Carolina where they did a bit - nothing quite like an off-key chorus of "happy birthday". But secretly in my heart, I was hoping to come pack to find my office cube decorated. Nope, just the way I left it. I'm bummed.

Thank you for letting me sulk. :(

I didn't grow up getting parties, and I thought maybe this time. I've been here 6 years, helped throw other people's. Nope, nothing, nada, rien. It's hard to explain how I feel. Sigh.

[redrhodie]

You know we won't let you down! Glad you made it over that hill :D!

Happy Birthday!

[shootingstar]

Happy belated birthday! Unfortunately I seldom pay attention to the birthday icon at the bottom of TE page.

Welcome in joining ranks of 50! (I turned 50 in January.) :):)

[Zen]

You aren't alone in the no party club. I've never had one either.
Maybe they're waiting until it's not your birthday so you'll really be surprised :rolleyes:

[bmccasland]

You aren't alone in the no party club. I've never had one either.
Maybe they're waiting until it's not your birthday so you'll really be surprised :rolleyes:

Zen - we'll have to meet at Waffle House and throw our own! :D

[mtbdarby]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Sorry it wasn't what you were hoping for - did anyone at work know it was your bday? I'm also in the no party club too and 50 is my next one. I'll throw my own party if I have too!:D

[ny biker]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I know how you feel. Where I work, I'm expected to take other people to lunch for their birthdays, but no one ever offers to take me to lunch. I've worked here 9 years and they all know when my birthday is. Whatevs. I take myself out.

I'll be 45 soon. (Like, Friday.)

[Biciclista]

Happy birthday! I didn't ever get black balloons but I'm glad. I always thought that was kind of creepy.

[Tuckervill]

Happy Birthday!

I know the feeling.

Karen

[snapdragen]

I know the feeling too. I've stopped attending other peoples birthday parties at work.

[Crankin]

I felt that way, when I first started my last job. All of the other teachers hated me (seriously... they thought I was too progressive and threatening). In my previous job, we celebrated everything, so it was hard.
Eventually all of the haters left and we became very social!

[OakLeaf]

Happy birthday Beth!

Sorry your day was such a letdown. Here's hoping the rest of the year makes up for it!

[ttaylor508]

Beth -- Here is a virtual Birthday Wish! Can someone bring the cake and make it a real virtual party? Maybe we could do virtual presents too!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

9506

[salsabike]

Happy Birthday, Beth!


9507

[SheFly]

Happy 50th Birthday!

I planned and plotted my own 40th birthday party - that way I knew I would get one :D.

Know that we all are tooting our birthday noisemakers in honor of your specidal day!

SheFly

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I must be living under a stone. This is the first I've ever heard of black balloons for 5oth birthdays. What the....??? Who came up with that bizarre concept? :cool:

I had two birthday parties when I was a kid- my 4th and my 5th birthdays.
Nothing after that. I finally had to ASK DH for us to throw a birthday party for me last year on my 54th birthday. It was a great party with about 30 friends ('no gifts' was specified) and a wonderful banjo cake, and I felt very happy having had the party.
It's funny, because all my grown friends are always having birthday parties and throwing them for each other. Go figure. At least I had my one great memorable party last year. :rolleyes:

Personally, I think it's somewhat pointless for 20 or more people working in an office to be throwing birthday parties for each other year after year. What an ordeal that would be! I'd think a card and maybe a song would be fine.

[Photoflygirl]

Happy Birthday!!

My best friend forgot my 40th birthday, didn't get a phone call. I was bummed. My DH gave me a card, made jokes, thought that was it. No surprise party the week before my b-day. Then the next Saturday, some friends took me out for lunch and when we got home, my best friend had drove in, several good friends were there and they all surprised me!

Hope you had a great day anyway, and that all our wishes picked you up a bit. :)

[Selkie]

Happy Birthday!

I understand how you feel and I served the role as office birthday "recognizer" for everyone else. Of course, no one remembered my birthday, and to be honest, I didn't expect it

I hope you treat yourself to something special to mark this "big one." You deserve it!

[papaver]

Happy half century! :cool: :D

[KathiCville]

Happy Birthday!!! Go do something really nice for yourself to mark your milestone AND take the edge of the disappointment!! Day spa? New toy for your bike? New bike? :eek::D

I realized many years ago that my birthdays are *always* more fun when I do the organizing, LOL!, so I've never expected much initiative from friends and family. The result is that I go into a birthday *knowing* I'm going to have a great time! A party with DJ for my 30th; Paris for my 40th; a WomanTours trip for my 50th. And lots of meaningful girls-day-out jaunts with my precious pooch on the 'off' birthdays!......:D

[Iris616]

Happy Belated Birthday! Sorry no one took the time to do something special for you. That stinks!!

[GLC1968]

Happy Birthday!
I'm sorry it was a let down.

No one did anything for my 40th birthday last year, either. I didn't even get a card from my husband. It sucks, doesn't it? That's ok...as my mom always says, "another birthday is better than the alternative", right? ;)

[beccaB]

Happy Birthday! 50 is a little over 2 years away for me, and I'm afraid my brother who lives in another state will really get me good, since I sent him a nice basket full of stuff for old people on his 40th. he still hasn't gotten even yet for the time I tied his shoelaces together when he fell asleep on the couch.!:eek:

[TxDoc]

Happy Birthday!
:)

[bmccasland]

Thanks gals. I had intended to leave the country, exercise my passport - but that idea turned to a bust for several reasons. Maybe this fall. Throwing your own party is probably the only way to make sure you get one if you want one.

Maybe for my double nickel I'll just have to arrange to be closer to my TE Sisters for some proper fun. I'm sure someone will have a bike to loan me. :D Birthday cake in paniers, with ice cream made in one of those backpacking roll around ice cream makers? :p

[uforgot]

Don't forget Margaritas out of Mimi's blender and chocolate!

[Red Rock]

Happy Birthday to you.

I understand how you feel about turning 40. I wanted a party or some sort of recognition and never recieved it beyond the average. My DH did not do anything spectacular. I was bummed at the time. Perhaps more so because my older brother had mentioned in passing that his wife put something in the local paper as to his being 40. There might have been a family party too.

Under the circumstances at this house, all celebrations are played down somewhat-or perhaps a lot. After I had done my time (working that is) at a local hospital, I have had to downplay holidays and other weekends or occasions of importance because I would miss them due to work.

I like your suggestion of having a TE getogether. Or your suggestion of the following:

Birthday cake in paniers, with ice cream made in one of those backpacking roll around ice cream makers?

What could be better?

Congrats and have a great year!
Red Rock

[solobiker]

Happy Birthday!!! My Birthday has been forgotten many times. Even DH forgot about once, as did my parents. Oh well.

[Geonz]

Don't let the buggers get you down.

It's a psychology thing... if you were needier in the right way, they'd respond to the stimulus... but you don't play those tunes. It's STILL great to be alive.

[Tuckervill]

I went away for a week by myself for my 40th. When my husband picked me up at the airport, instead of taking me home he took me to a surprise party!

That's the only party I've ever had. It meant a lot to me. It was with just a few friends, but they are still the best ones.

Karen

[Pedal Wench]

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smilingcat]

Happy Birthday Beth,

But do you feel 50? If you are like me, then definitly not. save the black baloon till when you feel 50 ;)

maybe when you do have a party, it will be very loud, hopefully not overboard. Anyway, ...

Enjoy each day of your life and cherish those whom you love and care. This is the best gift to yourself.

You can always throw a party for yourself by inviting friends over for backyard cookout. Throw a spread on a picnic table covered in newspaper, ... Steamed shrimp, Corn on the cob, blue crab, red potato... Shrimp/crab boil. Throw in some artichoke as well. Have your guest bring the desert, beer, wine... And I'm sure one of the men would be more than happy to take over the "boil" and you can just enjoy your frinds over.

[jobob]

Yum, could I come?!? :D

Happy Birthday, Beth.

[BellaMTB]

Beth - sorry about your letdown. The same thing happened to me @ 40, so for my 50th (in January) I just took it upon myself to invite a few close friends to join my DH & me at a favorite restaurant. Then I went out & bought myself a bleeping awesome super light custom-built MTB and have been having the best time riding it ever since. My advice is to think of it as your 50th birthday "year" & plan something fun!! I think lots of folks think it is depressing (for women) to turn 50 so they think they don't want to be reminded of it. Show them they're wrong!

Happy 50th Birthday Year!

J

(Black balloons??? Never heard of it.)

[Reesha]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2623883472_c17fe7f797.jpg

:o

[sgtiger]

Happy Birthday, Beth! Congrats on turning fifty.:D

[crazycanuck]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!! :)

Sending you a beeeg hug :D

[maillotpois]

Happy big 5-0!!

I like smilingcat's idea!! :)

[Flybye]

I am throwing my own 40th and 50th and they are going to be HUGE :) I have been disappointed before on big occasions, so I have taken the matter into my own hands!!!!!
I know the disappointment, anger, sadness, and alone feelings that go along with the let down. Just a thought, it isn't too late to throw your own fabulous party if you are in the mood....................

HAPPY 50TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ACG]

Happy Birthday.

I am often the party planner, but not the party receiver.
I got over waiting for a party years ago.

I now do something for me every year, it doesn't have to be on my birthday, but I try to do it or buy it within the week.

Do something for yourself, you deserve to feel special because you are.

[ClockworkOrange]

Oooooops, late as usual.

Here's wishing you a very happy belated 50th birthday :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3660075503_294d7ed29c_o.gif Now that's depressing

Some happier black balloons, still not very cheerful http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3660075497_6fcdbb9365_o.jpg

But heck, getting there http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3660875432_e97e60513b_o.jpg

So sending you lots of good wishes for reaching the best age by far and here's to the best year ever, all the way from Dorset, England.

Joking apart, when I reached my 50th birthday, for several years my life had been crap BUT from 50 onwards, my life became so much fun PLUS that was when I learnt to ride a bike again. :)

Clock :)

[lph]

Beth, it's 50 year olds like you that make me look forward to my 40th without the slightest twinge. Growing older is inevitable, but doesn't really mean much with inspirational women like you "around". From you and the other women on this board I've learnt that 50 is a great age. Phooey on those balloons! Go ride an all-night century or something :D

[nancielle]

Love the cake, Clock (I <3 Maxine.)

Happy Birthday Beth.


http://www.balloonmaniacs.com/images/relaximjusthereforthecakeballoon.jpg

[bmccasland]

I like all the cakes! Thank you!!! :D:D I knew I could count on TE for a virtual party. Now we just have to arrange for an in person party at a date-to-be-named-later. :p