We have really had a crazy couple of days, it has been hectic! I left off last Wednesday, and I have so much to say!
Thursday was my birthday - I turned 35! A week before, I had to do a little bit of math because I legitimately blanked out on how old I was. Whoops. I received a lot of lovely emails and messages from friends and family around the world - thank you to all of you who thought of me! I also got a very sweet birthday card from Michael's mom and dad that warmed my heart. They sent a gift card, which I promptly put to good use buying sleepsacks and bath towels for Lola, and a new coffee machine for Michael (Amazon delivers these to Hong Kong now, finally!). I'm not sure if it's appropriate to be spending my present on others, but I will say it brought me a lot of satisfaction.
I know presents aren't everyone's thing, but I love them - giving and receiving. I love a gift that shows that you really cared and spent time coming up with something that would be really fitting, or that you really spent time thinking about what they might like (even if it doesn't work). I also love gifts that are whimsical or just kind of random, or else maybe a small thing but just one you know the person would not buy for him/herself.
Unfortunately I really don't come from a gift-giving family or culture. It's just not viewed as an occasion - if you need something, you should go and get it when you need it. If you want something, then you know best what you want so you should just go get what you want. It's a very efficient and practical approach and there is none of the celebration surrounding it (why gift wrap, that is a waste of money, why buy a card, that is also a waste of money). Perhaps that is what has made me crave presents and surprises all the more as I have gotten older. Chinese people tend to give cold, hard cash (if any presents at all). Don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful thing (especially at weddings!) but for other occasions I really like something else. Even flowers will do - I know people think that's a cop-out, but not me!
Michael has been working too hard this year, and I will blame that for the reason he completely forgot to wish me a happy birthday this year when I woke up. I was feeling pretty miffed because all I got was a grouchy request to be quieter as I got ready for work in the morning. He called me later, though, when I was at work and apologized and wished me a very happy birthday, which made me feel better. It has been a really busy time - we were supposed to go out to dinner together to celebrate and instead we decided to cancel it because of our trip to Taiwan the next morning. I felt really stressed about work and packing and he felt really stressed about work. As I reflect on the incredibly fulfilling and amazing experiences we encountered this past year, I think the biggest issue for us as a couple and as parents has been balancing and figuring out our work schedules and respective household loads. As it was, that evening I ended up missing the chance to put Lola to bed, eating a salad for dinner by myself, and then working on my laptop until nearly midnight. Fun.
On a brighter note, I did get the opportunity to have a nice chat with my sister in the morning, and my work came through with a huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers.
In a particularly sweet touch, after a longer-than-expected day of emails and calls, my team filed into my office singing happy birthday with an oreo cookie birthday cake and candles.
Michael also bought me wonderful, perfect presents - and with a theme! (For those "This American Life" fans out there). The first bag I got revealed a bunch of bath bombs nestled in their fragrant glory. The next bag contained a tissue-wrapped confection that revealed a huge glass bottle of extravagantly scented rose bath salts from Portugal. And then, finally, the third (and largest) bag contained a huge box that contained a gorgeous bathrobe from Yves Delacorte. I desperately needed a new bathrobe (my old one was so ratty and discolored that I had to throw it out, I could no longer bear to look at it) and this one is really unique and beautiful. It also has the texture that I really like - satiny-cotton printed fabric on the outside, and soft terry-cloth on the inside. It's also not thick (I'm too petite for the super heavy hotel-style terrycloth ones). The presents were really fitting, especially the bathrobe. I was very impressed.
On an even brighter note, even though the night of my actual birthday may not have been ideal, it was all so we could have an amazing three day weekend in Taichung, Taiwan, to help Lola celebrate her first year on this earth. More details on that to come - it was a really amazing weekend (despite some hiccups). I really like that we share a birthday so close together in time - with Thanksgiving and the holiday season all rolling together, it feels like it's just party time from now until the new year!
And on the brightest note, I have a baby daughter who shouts my name in glee whenever I am even within whispering or bloodhound scent-distance. When balanced against that, everything else falls away and just becomes mere noise.
Thursday was my birthday - I turned 35! A week before, I had to do a little bit of math because I legitimately blanked out on how old I was. Whoops. I received a lot of lovely emails and messages from friends and family around the world - thank you to all of you who thought of me! I also got a very sweet birthday card from Michael's mom and dad that warmed my heart. They sent a gift card, which I promptly put to good use buying sleepsacks and bath towels for Lola, and a new coffee machine for Michael (Amazon delivers these to Hong Kong now, finally!). I'm not sure if it's appropriate to be spending my present on others, but I will say it brought me a lot of satisfaction.
I know presents aren't everyone's thing, but I love them - giving and receiving. I love a gift that shows that you really cared and spent time coming up with something that would be really fitting, or that you really spent time thinking about what they might like (even if it doesn't work). I also love gifts that are whimsical or just kind of random, or else maybe a small thing but just one you know the person would not buy for him/herself.
Unfortunately I really don't come from a gift-giving family or culture. It's just not viewed as an occasion - if you need something, you should go and get it when you need it. If you want something, then you know best what you want so you should just go get what you want. It's a very efficient and practical approach and there is none of the celebration surrounding it (why gift wrap, that is a waste of money, why buy a card, that is also a waste of money). Perhaps that is what has made me crave presents and surprises all the more as I have gotten older. Chinese people tend to give cold, hard cash (if any presents at all). Don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful thing (especially at weddings!) but for other occasions I really like something else. Even flowers will do - I know people think that's a cop-out, but not me!
Michael has been working too hard this year, and I will blame that for the reason he completely forgot to wish me a happy birthday this year when I woke up. I was feeling pretty miffed because all I got was a grouchy request to be quieter as I got ready for work in the morning. He called me later, though, when I was at work and apologized and wished me a very happy birthday, which made me feel better. It has been a really busy time - we were supposed to go out to dinner together to celebrate and instead we decided to cancel it because of our trip to Taiwan the next morning. I felt really stressed about work and packing and he felt really stressed about work. As I reflect on the incredibly fulfilling and amazing experiences we encountered this past year, I think the biggest issue for us as a couple and as parents has been balancing and figuring out our work schedules and respective household loads. As it was, that evening I ended up missing the chance to put Lola to bed, eating a salad for dinner by myself, and then working on my laptop until nearly midnight. Fun.
On a brighter note, I did get the opportunity to have a nice chat with my sister in the morning, and my work came through with a huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers.
 |
| Because I will never not post pictures of flowers...they are currently still going strong on the dining room table. |
Michael also bought me wonderful, perfect presents - and with a theme! (For those "This American Life" fans out there). The first bag I got revealed a bunch of bath bombs nestled in their fragrant glory. The next bag contained a tissue-wrapped confection that revealed a huge glass bottle of extravagantly scented rose bath salts from Portugal. And then, finally, the third (and largest) bag contained a huge box that contained a gorgeous bathrobe from Yves Delacorte. I desperately needed a new bathrobe (my old one was so ratty and discolored that I had to throw it out, I could no longer bear to look at it) and this one is really unique and beautiful. It also has the texture that I really like - satiny-cotton printed fabric on the outside, and soft terry-cloth on the inside. It's also not thick (I'm too petite for the super heavy hotel-style terrycloth ones). The presents were really fitting, especially the bathrobe. I was very impressed.
On an even brighter note, even though the night of my actual birthday may not have been ideal, it was all so we could have an amazing three day weekend in Taichung, Taiwan, to help Lola celebrate her first year on this earth. More details on that to come - it was a really amazing weekend (despite some hiccups). I really like that we share a birthday so close together in time - with Thanksgiving and the holiday season all rolling together, it feels like it's just party time from now until the new year!
And on the brightest note, I have a baby daughter who shouts my name in glee whenever I am even within whispering or bloodhound scent-distance. When balanced against that, everything else falls away and just becomes mere noise.
Happy birthday to you and lola!
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