Forgot my Birthday!!!????

"Your birthday is tomorrow!" Courtlyn's tutor had reminded me on Tuesday. Felipe had seen it on Facebook, and I, having been in the island of Butachauques over the weekend and a bit out of sorts with my dates, had not realized that it was the next day! "Wow! I would have forgotten!" This was weird for me, that my birthday snuck up on me, I guessed it was because we are in another land!

Later in the day, Courtlyn asked me to keep Wednesday night free for a night out on the town! After telling our neighbors that we would be going out, they inquired about my birthday as well. "It's tomorrow!" I sheepishly informed them, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

Tuesday night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I said, "This is the last night for me to be 33!" It is crazy how the time flies!

Courtlyn woke me up this morning, with a "Happy Birthday!" Later, making my favorite coffee - Jazzy Java, a small portion, still saved from the States. Cristina, our neighbor, came down with two pieces of cake - "hope your day is great....all day!"

After breakfast, before heading out to a women's group I go to every Wednesday morning, I checked Facebook, "That's weird - no one wished me a happy birthday!" I quickly excused it due to the fact that we are two hours ahead of the States, and "people are probably still waking up".

When I arrived to the women's group, Eliana, my tutor (who had been at my home when Felipe reminded me yesterday of my birthday) had brought me a pair of beautiful green earrings, and a gorgeous pink flower from her garden. Everyone else, I could tell, was a little embarrassed that they didn't have anything to celebrate, "we didn't know!" they all exclaimed.

"No importa!" I responded. "To be honest, I had forgotten that my birthday was coming!" I told them, and recounted the fact that Felipe had reminded me yesterday of the importance of today! They found it strange that I would forget, since they all agreed that they anticipate their birthdays!

Amidst the women chatter, there was some hushed talking, and two women left "to pick another lady up" from her home. I had a sense that there was a possibility that there would be a grocery store stop included in their trip...in order to buy a cake. Yet, I remained collected, and dove into conversation with the women who had stayed behind.

It was during that time, as I took a sip of coffee, I received the text from Courtlyn,

-------"Kim, today is the 16th! Felipe was joking yesterday! U are still 33!" ----------

My eyes, I am sure, doubled in size, as I attempted to discreetly turn my choking on coffee into something more calm and pleasant.

"Que!!!!!!?" I exclaimed!

The ladies turned, and I proceeded to tell them between embarrassed giggles, and emotional disbelief, that today, Wednesday, the 16th, was not, in fact, my birthday! We laughed! Yet...I was not done with explaining...since there were two ladies out...looking for a cake (of this, I was fairly certain!) - internally, I sighed, and kept smiling as a variety of chatter rose up again.

The others arrived....the door was opened...and the reflection of lit candles soon shone off the door's glass window. As Eliana and Irene entered, singing "Cumpleaños Feliz" all of the women in the house looked knowingly at me, yet, joined in the singing...why not celebrate, right?

After the song ended, photos snapped, and the candles' flames extinguished, we all laughed again over what had transpired!

Felipe had gotten me....me and many others!

Later today, he stopped by, with a friend, for a good laugh, and (I think) to make sure that I was not mad! There was much laughter over my recounting of all of the "celebrations" I had today, due to him! I served him and his friend some of the leftover birthday cake that I had received, (thanks to his beautifully, delivered prank), and thanked him for making my birthday two days long!

(Sigh) -I am still shaking my head.....I can't quite believe that the events of today actually happened!

Now, tonight, before I go to bed....I am going to check my calendar, just to make sure....that what I believe to be correct is true. And then...as I am drifting off to sleep, I will say, "This is the last night for me to be 33" .....for the second time!