I turned 72 on Friday, June 22. Over those 72 years I've had some wonderful birthday gifts and surprises. My soulmate husband, Robert, has always been creative and clever in surprising me.
I've had some "unusual" gifts on other holidays, too. One Valentine's Day I got a lot. Not as in a large amount, but as in a plot of ground, a future homesite. It ultimately became part of the down payment on the house we fell in love with and have lived in for nearly 45 years. On Mother's Day one year I got a long-shaft 6 hp outboard motor for our sailboat. And yes, I was very happy to get it. The entrance to our marina was baffled and it was full of tight "S" turns to get to the dock or out to deep water. I was the one at the helm, and getting that beast through those turns under sail (considered a mark of honor) was the bane of my sailing existence. I kissed that little kicker every time I fired it up.
This birthday I received the most unusual and incredible gift I have ever received. I got me back.
I was given the first name of Nina (Nyna) after my mother. It fit her well. I, however, was always called Jackie, a diminutive of my middle name. I was never Nina and didn't want to be. When we married I happily took Robert's last name. However, I was still saddled with the hated Nina. Right after our marriage I got a new driver's license that dropped the hated Nina and showed me as Jacqualine Maiden Name Last Name. I loved it because it was a blending of my heritage and my future. I used that name for over 50 years and it felt very comfortable.
When I turned 65 I was obligated to sign up for medicare. Trying to make sense of that stuff was crazy-making. I was used to interpreting a huge stack of government manuals but medicare was nearly impossible to make any sense of. I finally made a decision. I'm still not sure whether I signed up for medicare or joined the Peace Corps.
Social Security and medicare, in their infinite wisdom, decreed I was not who I had been for all those years but was instead Nina Jacqualine. At least they let me keep Robert's name. Suddenly I was someone else. I hated it. Every medical insurance and medicare paper, every medical facility, every pharmacy, every doctor and nurse suddenly began addressing me by Nina. And to make it worse, every one of them pronounced it Neena. It's been useless to correct them. It's to the point I want to either ignore them (I tried it but it didn't work) or scream at them. I desperately wanted my old self back.
The evening of my birthday this year my husband told me to check my email. I did, and there were all the forms and instructions to legally change my name. Everything is there. He took care of it. All I need now are a set of my fingerprints and some money so I can get the judge to sign the papers. Then the hated Nina will be gone and I'll be me again. I'm overjoyed to be back. This is the best birthday present I ever got!
The worst? A sad trip to the vet.
Now you know why I'm so happy. It's your turn.
What are the best and worst birthday (or other) gifts you've ever gotten? Why do they rate the title?
I've had some "unusual" gifts on other holidays, too. One Valentine's Day I got a lot. Not as in a large amount, but as in a plot of ground, a future homesite. It ultimately became part of the down payment on the house we fell in love with and have lived in for nearly 45 years. On Mother's Day one year I got a long-shaft 6 hp outboard motor for our sailboat. And yes, I was very happy to get it. The entrance to our marina was baffled and it was full of tight "S" turns to get to the dock or out to deep water. I was the one at the helm, and getting that beast through those turns under sail (considered a mark of honor) was the bane of my sailing existence. I kissed that little kicker every time I fired it up.
This birthday I received the most unusual and incredible gift I have ever received. I got me back.
I was given the first name of Nina (Nyna) after my mother. It fit her well. I, however, was always called Jackie, a diminutive of my middle name. I was never Nina and didn't want to be. When we married I happily took Robert's last name. However, I was still saddled with the hated Nina. Right after our marriage I got a new driver's license that dropped the hated Nina and showed me as Jacqualine Maiden Name Last Name. I loved it because it was a blending of my heritage and my future. I used that name for over 50 years and it felt very comfortable.
When I turned 65 I was obligated to sign up for medicare. Trying to make sense of that stuff was crazy-making. I was used to interpreting a huge stack of government manuals but medicare was nearly impossible to make any sense of. I finally made a decision. I'm still not sure whether I signed up for medicare or joined the Peace Corps.
Social Security and medicare, in their infinite wisdom, decreed I was not who I had been for all those years but was instead Nina Jacqualine. At least they let me keep Robert's name. Suddenly I was someone else. I hated it. Every medical insurance and medicare paper, every medical facility, every pharmacy, every doctor and nurse suddenly began addressing me by Nina. And to make it worse, every one of them pronounced it Neena. It's been useless to correct them. It's to the point I want to either ignore them (I tried it but it didn't work) or scream at them. I desperately wanted my old self back.
The evening of my birthday this year my husband told me to check my email. I did, and there were all the forms and instructions to legally change my name. Everything is there. He took care of it. All I need now are a set of my fingerprints and some money so I can get the judge to sign the papers. Then the hated Nina will be gone and I'll be me again. I'm overjoyed to be back. This is the best birthday present I ever got!
The worst? A sad trip to the vet.
Now you know why I'm so happy. It's your turn.
What are the best and worst birthday (or other) gifts you've ever gotten? Why do they rate the title?