Best Birthday Gift Ever

Mother Dragon

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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?
 

1CatOverTheLine

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This one's a snap for me. Best birthday gift of all time - my first kitty, Busy:

busy1958.jpg


I remember with clarity going to "pick her out" of her litter, and despite my actual birthday falling on Sunday that year (1958), her breeder was willing to let us visit then, and for myself and one of the tiny four-week-old kittens, it was love at first sight. I counted the days off on my own "cat homecoming calendar" until we picked her up on 14 June, and though she's been gone now these forty years and more, never still does a day pass when I don't think of her.

I don't recall ever having received a 'bad' gift yet.
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Mother Dragon

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This one's a snap for me. Best birthday gift of all time - my first kitty, Busy:

View attachment 238333

I remember with clarity going to "pick her out" of her litter, and despite my actual birthday falling on Sunday that year (1958), her breeder was willing to let us visit then, and for myself and one of the tiny four-week-old kittens, it was love at first sight. I counted the days off on my own "cat homecoming calendar" until we picked her up on 14 June, and though she's been gone now these forty years and more, never still does a day pass when I don't think of her.

I don't recall ever having received a 'bad' gift yet.
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She's beautiful. I think you two chose each other. I'll bet she was counting the days, too.
 

Furballsmom

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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.
Geez I'm glad to hear you say that, makes me feel slightly better. Those of us who are pretty sure that last time we checked we're still intelligent and sane, and can't get THIS? lordy lordy.
in any case HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY birthday!!
Mine? They've all been outstanding, but bringing the Big Guy home is pretty much tops :)
 

Norachan

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When I was ten my parents finally relented and let me start horse riding. For my tenth birthday I got a card that said 12 riding lessons had been paid for and I could take the first one that afternoon.

:bliss:

It's the most enjoyable thing I even learnt how to do. I still ride regularly now and I've been riding in Mongolia, India, Australia and Chile.

Worst thing that ever happened on my birthday was getting knocked down by a hit and run driver while I was crossing the road and breaking my toe. Ouch!
 

Winchester

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A very Happy Birthday, buddy! What an awesome birthday gift! You keep Mr. Mother Dragon around for a long time; that man is a keeper! Many, many birthday hugs!

I think one of the best birthdays I had was my 40th. Rick, Mom, and Rick's mom got together and planned a big 40th birthday celebration....and they all managed to keep it a complete secret from me. How they ever did that, I'll never know, but I had no clue. Relatives, friends, even some of my co-workers from the paper plant were there and even my co-workers kept it from me. Rick rented a hall in town, I got home from work, and he and our son told me that they were taking me out to dinner for my birthday. I never suspected anything different. Until we got to the hall. I opened the door to the building and everybody was there. Rick has a picture of the look on my face; it's simply priceless. I saw my co-worker there and said, "But, but I worked with you today! You said nothing! You even said you were going out to dinner!" And he said, "I didn't lie, sweetheart; we're out to dinner!"

Mom and Evelyn made the food; Rick and our son went in during the day and decorated; they ordered a gorgeous cake. They specified no gifts, but there were presents: black toilet paper, packages of prunes, coffee mugs about turning 40. One of my GFs gave me a coffee mug that said, "I'm 40; just shoot me now." Rick gave me gorgeous roses. It was incredible. They got me and they got me good. It was probably the second time that I didn't find out about something (Mom and Dad did a Sweet Sixteen party for me and I didn't suspect a thing then either).

I don't think I've ever had a "worst" birthday. *knock on wood* Oh sure, there have been birthdays when we got a ton of snow or an ice storm and couldn't do anything....and I always whine about that when it happens. Today, at 63, birthdays are pretty much like other days. With a cake. :)
 

MonaLyssa33

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Well I can definitely say the worst gift I ever received was from my grandma when I was a teenager. She got me this outfit that was jean elastic pants and a jean vest with flamingos embroidered all over both pieces. I don't know why she ever thought a 15 year old would want that, but I never wore it.
The best gift was from my mom on my 30th birthday. She gave me a suitcase and a notebook with a note inside saying me and her were going to go on a trip to anywhere I wanted within driving distance of home. I chose Chicago because I had never been there. We ended up going over her birthday and my sister and I surprised her by getting her tickets to see the Blue Man Group which she wanted to do forever. I kept insisting I did not want to go, but then I changed my mind and she was so surprised when she got the tickets and delighted that they were in the poncho section (meaning we were close enough to possibly get splattered with paint).
 

kashmir64

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My best birthday was when I was 12. I got my very first horse. He was a yearling Ango Arab and he was a terror. But with patience and love, he became my soul mate (horse). I lost him to cancer when he was 27, but those were the best 26 years of my life and I miss him everyday....but he made me whole and I wouldn't have changed a day.
This is a picture of a photo, so there is some glare. Sorry about that. Took this on his 20th birthday.
Ibn.JPG
 

raysmyheart

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mother Dragon Mother Dragon , from R raysmyheart and Speedy!:daisy::bluebutterfly::daisy::bluebutterfly:

My most treasured Birthday gift was about 50 years ago when I was near first grade in school. My Mom, several days before my Birthday (December) inquired what kind of cake I would like. She suggested a carousel cake and I agreed - after she described what it would be like! The anticipation was half the fun.:)

My Mom made it from strawberry cake mix (my choice) and she made pink frosting. The merry-go-round 'animals' were animal crackers. The carousel top was cut from colorful construction paper and placed upon a decorated tube.
I requested this cake for two or three years, after that I probably requested a more grown-up cake, but what I would do to have that cake in front of me today. It was definitely my most treasured Birthday gift and brings a joyful tear to my eye.

Luckily, all Birthday gifts I ever received were always good ones. I never received a gift I didn't like!
 
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