Tell Me About Your Birthday Oddities
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Hey there. Happy Flag Day! Several years ago, in May 2016, I was at a conference, and I joined an art session taught by the fabulous A’Driane Nieves. I settled myself at one of the tables and as I got to know my table mates, it turned out that most of us had June birthdays (which means we are Geminis, if you follow that sort of thing). In fact, one of the women even had my exact same birthday! It’s always fun to find a birthday mate, right?
After realizing we had the same birthday, June 14th, she said, “You know, it’s also Donald Trump’s birthday. June 14th. Flag Day.”
My mouth fell open. I have rarely been caught that off guard. I said, “Are you joking? Is that for real?” I could not believe it. But apparently it’s true. I share a birthday with Donald Trump.
Turns out, that no, it’s not always fun to find a birthday mate. Hahaha.
Today is my birthday. And it’s also Trump’s birthday. And knowing he was arrested yesterday, I assume it will be a memorable one for him. (It’s hard for me to imagine he’ll actually face consequences for his actions, since he never has before, but maybe this time is different.)
If I had learned I shared a birthday with Trump 2 years earlier — anytime 2014 or before — it would not have even registered in my brain. I would have heard it and forgotten it within milliseconds. But when I heard the same thing in May 2016, when the country was deep in election news, I was so bummed. I know it doesn’t actually mean anything, and now I can make jokes about it, but still, I don’t like sharing a birthday with him.
Oh well.
Growing up, I loved sharing my birthday with Flag Day. It felt festive to see all the flags on display, and I like that it wasn’t one of the big holidays, so I didn’t feel like my birthday was pushed to the background.
My father’s birthday was September 11th. He died a few years before the events of 9/11. And I’m not sure how he would have felt, sharing his birthday with a day mourned by the nation. I know that Liz of Mom 101, a life-long New Yorker, has a 9/11 birthday as well, and I’ve noticed she finds good ways to celebrate, while also honoring the somber realities of that day. And I always wonder if that’s a hard balance for her to strike.
My daughter Maude’s birthday is on March 4th. On her baby announcement, there’s a little ladybug in the corner saying, “March Forth, Mimi!” We were told it is the only birthday that’s also a command.
Another big date in our family is August 25th. Our daughter Olive was born that day, so was her Uncle Jim, her Cousin Colin, her Cousin Lindsey, her Grandpa Mac, and two of Grandpa Mac’s kids. We also have grouped birthdays in our family. Two close together in March (4th & 7th), two close together in May (7th & 10th), and two close together in August (25th & 26th).
What about you? Do you have any birthday quirks? Do you share your birthday with a memorable day? Or maybe a holiday? Who are the famous people you share a birthday with? Anyone you adore? I hope so! (Not sure who shares your birthday? A quick web search will tell you — try “famous people born on [date]”. Go search, because I want to hear!) Do you like the calendar date your birthday falls on? Or would you switch if you could?
That’s all for now. I hope you’re having a wonderful week. Feel free to comment on anything I mentioned above, or whatever’s on your mind.
kisses,
Gabrielle
Happy birthday! My birthday is June 9, and my mom’s sister, my favorite aunt, was born June 6--as was her youngest daughter! If my aunt was visiting us in Michigan around that time, we would celebrate our birthdays together. I always liked that.
My older daughter’s due date was June 5, so I wondered if we’d share a birthday (I didn’t really want to share!). Luckily for me, she came a week early, so she was just barely a May baby instead of June.
Then, on June 6th of last year, my aunt’s birthday, I found out I was finally pregnant with my second baby! Devastatingly, my aunt had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This year, we marked my aunt’s birthday for the first time without her. I wish Aunt Margaret could meet my baby Greta.
My birthday is New Year’s Eve which has always felt like a very special birthday. My brother was born on my 17th birthday which is definitely very special!