There are a lot of us that celebrate birthdays each year where I live. In addition to me, my husband, and our four kids, my husband’s parents live next to us, and his brother lives behind us. Then there’s our two friends who live with us and their two kids (part-time). Needless to say, there are A LOT of birthdays.

When our house was built seven years ago, it became “the gathering place.” It is the place where all the parties happen now. Most of the birthdays for those that live on “the compound” are small, just the family and those that live here. As a result, these shindigs often come together at the last minute.

Years ago, during one of our “last minute gatherings” I realized that I didn’t have the right number candle to light or single stick candles either. I needed a “7” probably for a “37” or a “47.” As a result, I improvised. I took a number “2” candle and turned it upside down into a “7.” Success! We had the right numbers after all.

After that, my mother-in-law vowed to buy me the right candles. But she never did, and neither did I. Sure enough, at the next birthday “38” I believe, we didn’t have an 8, and again we improvised this time, putting eight single candles in place of the missing number.

Again, she vowed to buy the right candles for the next party. At this point, though I thought, why? Isn’t this the best family shtick?!?!?! This is what family lore is made of! It’s these hilarious moments ensuing that make the best memories!

It goes like this…

Birthday arrives…
Oh crap, we need to get a cake…
Pickup cake that afternoon
Alright let’s gather at 6:30 at our house…
Time to light the candles…
dig through candle drawer…
Announce: We in fact (again) don’t have the right candle number we need.
laugh (again) that we need to improvise

I’ve just embraced the fact that when it comes to having the accurate number on the cake, it’s an amazing game of “What can I find in the candle drawer today? And, what funny thing can I put in it’s place?”

Yesterday was my father in law’s birthday. He is 69 years young. So, to the candle drawer I went!! I had both numbers this time!!! However, the number “9” was in very bad shape. Apparently, the baby ventured into this drawer at some point in time and chewed off chunks of it. They way I see it, 1.) He is still alive (the baby not my father in law… we know he’s alive as we’re celebrating his birthday) and 2.) This is just more memories to add to our birthday festivities, this time complete with a #parentfail for not watching the baby more closely. I’m telling you the fourth child is raising himself. (Glad he survived eating candle wax).

Because of these recurring incidents and knowing I was going to post this blog today, I took out all my candles to inventory what I have. I now know that when my husband turns 41 this year that I will not in fact have the number “one” candle. And you know what? I’m not going to do a damn thing about it. There’s something so fun and entertaining about going to the candle drawer wondering what I will find.

I did find four “3” candles and three “5” candles, so when my brother in law turns 55 in a few years, we’ll be all set! (So long as I can locate enough 5’s that day.)

This shtick is by far one of my favorite family pastimes. For those that know me, you know that I am “Type A” organized to a scary degree, so in many ways this lack of preparedness on birthdays is foreign. But I’m letting this one go. It’s my little piece of rebellion to give life a little bit of laughter.