Sometimes, in life, there are no explanations–not at the tender age of five, anyways. And for me, I didn’t understand what being “adopted” was, but I knew I was it. Several things puzzled me at that age, like: why bears ate porridge, why my aunts all had mustaches, and why my grandmother would force me to watch Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers. I hated both shows. Captain Kangaroo bored me; who wants to see an old man dressed up as a captain? And As far as the latter, when you grow up Mexican and every family event ends with a phone call to 911 because two family members stabbed one another–well, watching Lady Evelyn rock back-and-forth just doesn’t seem as exciting.
Needless to say, my childhood was an interesting one, thanks to TV. Back then, parents didn’t care what their children watched, at least mine didn’t; I was addicted to Charlie’s Angels. And because of Sabrina, Jill, and Kelly, my over-active imagination received high jolts of inquisitiveness. What am I trying to say? I was a chubby, nosy Mexican-child always suspecting people of lies. Why else would I rush to the phone every time it rang and listen in on my family members conversations? When my father gathered enough courage to tell us he’d lost money in a pyramid scam; I wan’t shocked–I knew two days prior. When my sister’s scheme to spend the night at another friend’s house was hatched; I knew it wasn’t going to work and when she got caught, she looked puzzled when I yelled, “It’s cause you did it wrong!”
So the year I turned 9 and overheard my mom and my biological mother, Sylvia, on the phone together, it won’t come as a shock that I was intrigued; I took notes.
Sylvia: I just don’t understand why you told him he’s adopted; it’s going to hurt him later in life.
Mom: We believe in honestly and the power of Pepsi in this house.
Sylvia: Don’t blame me when things go wrong with him.
Mom: I called to invite you to his birthday party. It’s your choice if you want to come. He likes Wonder Woman.
Sylvia: What?
My birthday’s were always special because my parents understood the gentle side of their son and planned accordingly. Don’t get me wrong, I never had Rainbow Bright-themed parties, but they kept it neutral, like a fish or star. So why did my mom invite Sylvia to my party? Did I even want her there? Why wasn’t I consulted on the guest list? I mean, sure, I’d want her gift; I wasn’t stupid. And I knew her gift would be the biggest due to the high guilt she must have felt for abandoning me at birth–right? Then, the detective in me came out; “Did my parents invite her so they wouldn’t have to give me anything big?” Damn them!
I don’t remember much about that party expect that I had a piñata in the shape of a sock. A sock-shaped piñata doesn’t make for water-cooler conversational pieces at school, but since I didn’t have friends, it didn’t matter. All my schoolmates thought I was weird and refused to talk to me, unless they were teasing me, so my party guests were my cousins. There was Mike, he ate his boogers, there was Josh, the shoplifter, and Janice, who for some reason, my aunt would dress like a young hooker.
Sylvia showed up but I can’t recall her gift, so it must have sucked. My parents–on the other hand–got me something so beautiful and inspiring that it still brings tears to my eyes; an envelope full of money. I was hard to shop for–then and now–and they gave up shopping for me after I caused a scene rejecting their Snoopy-themed gifts the year before.
So why am I sharing this bizarre childhood gem of a story? Because my birthday is tomorrow, June 30th and I always get nostalgic thinking about the great memories I had as a kid on the last day of June. We didn’t have much, but we had love, parties, piñatas, and envelopes of money, which in the end, is what counts.
Do you remember your birthday celebrations? Leave a comment.
It’s funny what we remember from our childhoods, isn’t it? I remember only one birthday party really, and it was the one where my mom was trying to make up for being a shitty mom by throwing the biggest, best party in our whole neighborhood…you know: so everyone would KNOW she was a good mom. Yeah. It was a Double-Dare Birthday Party, complete with back-yard obstacle course. It was awesome. But it wsn’t really about me.
Anyway, happy birthday to you! Hope you enjoy this one!!
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Heartache of Infertility =-.
A Double-Dare party!! That sounds super fun. Did your mom at least
win the BEST MOM AWARD for the day? No? better than being abandoned at birth, right?
Awww… Happy (early) birthday, Sweetie! Unfortunately, I never had birthday parties – either as a child (we were really poor and my mom sucked) or now (when you go drinking with the same eople every weekend for years, what’s a birthday?), so even if Sylvia’s gift was unmemorable, I envy you. You were chosen by a family who made it a point to make sure you knew that you were special – even if they weren’t there when you were born. You’re still special and I’m really glad I found you.
Rock your birthday like no other, baby, and have a fabulous time!
Xxo
~Kimberly
Ah, that was a special comment–thanks. My parties were always out of control.
Not in the wild & crazy ways kids now have–but in the “Oh, no! Uncle Joe just passed out on my cake!”
Nando, you are so awesome. Happy Birthday! And I am so glad I didn’t miss it, I was feeling pangs of guilt you know.
My strangest birthday memory is getting hit by a door of a chemistry classroom in the eighth grade and lying down heroically in the high school medical office. Oh and – on my eighteenth birthday I (literally) walked into my future ex-boyfriend. Sigh.
.-= Lena.FM´s last blog ..A totally off-topic post about a tiny baby mouse and amateur psychotherapy for cats =-.
HAPPY BIRTYDAY!! Your writing and story telling is wonderful. I didnt grow up Mexican however being being Irish Catholic I know all about parties ending up with crazy drama!! I also will say my parents also knew about the “gentle” side of thier son and parties were always planned accordingly. Difference was I DID get a Rainbow Brite party, Not Lying. This story reminded me how blessed I was to have Amaze parents who loved me sooo much. Thank you for reminding me. I also LOVED Charlie’s Angels I sooo thought I was Kelly.
.-= TJ Kelly´s last blog ..Arax-Rae Van Buren- I just launched a contest with a client today- local boutique chain =-.
OMG this is wonderfully hilarious. Mustached aunts! Sock pinatas! It’s got it all! Very well-written and a great story. Happy, happy birthday to youuuuuu!
.-= singlegirlie´s last blog ..Uh- Where’s the Guy From the Picture =-.
Favorite memory from my birthdays growing up in Mexico: my mom would come into the bedroom carrying a bouquet of flowers from our garden (we didn’t have much) and she would tell me how special I was and how much she and Dad loved me. My birthdays in the States I hardly remember…maybe it’s not about the gifts hu as I can’t remember what I received.
You should be a comedian, like seriously!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, you look hot as ever.
Holy Jeebus! That’s fantastic. I grew up as a Mexi-melt and know what you mean, my dear. For the first five years of my life I had parties that included giant poofy dresses, with more toole than most pageant dresses require and the kicker was that my Abuela and Mami conspired to get a cake with a Mexi-Barbie on it that had a matching friggin’ dress!!! Ugh. I can see the pictures in my head now. Red and white polka dots everywhere!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! And thanks for sharing.
Aww loved this story. I recall my mom always making my birthday special, she’d even hand made all the hats and decor, she went all out. She even defended me when another little girl tried to get on my chair that I stood on while they were singing me happy birthday. I pushed the bitch, didn’t she know it was my 5th birthday and there’s was only birthday princess allowed. Didn’t care that her birthday was the next day. LOL, i was a lovely child really, just didn’t share well.
Anyways, years and years later. My mom still makes me feel special with handmade cards. She rocks!
Happy Birthday love! Hope it’s wonderful!
Awww cute story! LMAO @ You rejecting Snoopy gifts and theme ! LOL
What a character you must of been back then ! It explains the person that you are today which is a Beautiful person inside and out.
Have a Wonderful Birthday My Friend
You’re parents sound awesome…with the sensitive birthday nuetrality and what not
I can’t lie. I had the best birthday parties ever. People still talk about them. The rest of my life had it’s bumps and bruises for sure but my bdays were killer.
When I was like 9 I went to this restaurant and got a fiesta salad type thing in a huge deep fried tortilla bowl. I asked my mom if we could make salads at my bday. She hunted for the shells everywhere. Eventually she just had to buy the shells from the restaurant. Can you imagine going in to like Red Robin and being like…Can I have 12 tortilla bowl shells? Like you want 12 salads? No, just the bowls. lol There was more to the bdays but this comment is getting really long so
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.-= SomethingSheDated´s last blog ..Dear Boys- Silence Is Not Golden =-.
Personally I had it great for birthdays as a kid. Born on Valentines day, school on my birthday was one party, then at home I’d have another party. I guess the cosmos was making up in advance for what was to come as an adult. As a single gay guy try getting anyone to do anything with YOU when they have their latest BF or significant other to play with. As a partnered gay, try finding a nice restaurant or getting your friends together ON your birthday. Meh. It’s just another day now.