Happy Belated Birthday

Friday, the 19th, was my 30th birthday. Dad had surgery that morning and my mother and brother stayed with him afterward until nearly the end of visitors' hours. Not the best birthday on record. The receptionist at work, one of my students, and a total stranger that wandered by and heard them wished me well, as did mom, my brother, and one of his ex-girlfriends.

You know, I've pretty much given up on the birthday thing. My 16th birthday was completely forgotten, and several since then have been barely acknowledged, and I'm tired of reminding people that I've managed to stick around for another year. I guess I feel that if I'm important to someone they'll make the effort to remind themselves of it.