With a New Year’s Eve birthday, I get to do some seriously fun things on my special day.

Here’s my first birthday. I’m blissfully eating cake, unaware that in six short months I will cease to be the center of the universe.

I wouldn’t be surprised if my sister ate all my cake on my second birthday. But I digress.

Since it is over winter break, I’ve spent many birthdays away from home. One time, when I was really little, we were flying on my birthday and the story includes something about the passengers singing to me while the flight attendant brought a muffin with a candle. Maybe I’m messing the story up because a candle on a plane just doesn’t seem right, but Mom can straighten me out in the comment box.

Anyway, I’ve spent my birthday in Ohio, Florida, California and Utah as well as my home states. I’ve been on the beach and at Disneyland.

In Cleveland, with family when I was little, I got to go on special birthday outings with my aunt and uncle. They would take me (just me!!) to a mall (wow!) and let me pick out a present, whatever I wanted (big wow!). This was so incredibly exciting and special.

When we were at home, the church I grew up in did a New Year’s Eve talent show. We would always sing or play instruments, followed by “Skidamarinkadinkadink” (not sure what the real title is).

One set of grandparents gave me a pearl necklace, and on each birthday they would add a pearl. Such grown-up jewelry made a little girl feel very elegant.

Two years ago, we went out to eat and ran into a family from our church that we hardly knew. At the end of the meal, the waiter told us there was no check as that family had paid for our tab. What a special birthday surprise!

So whether it’s exciting locations, special time with family, or surprising generosity, my birthdays have turned out pretty good. I’m looking forward to many more.

Tell me your favorite birthday story!