A good birthday

My birthday was a good day. Both of them. Actually, I can't remember having one that was a bad day (or two), though my mother always told me I was born in a blizzard—does that count as a bad day? No blizzards here, though.

My sister-in-law took me out for lunch, as she did last year, and that was really nice. I hardly ever go out to lunch during the week, so it was a special treat. We went to our local, Verrans Espresso & Food, which is always nice (and it’s why I was near the dairy I mentioned in one of my posts yesterday).

Not long after I got back home, Nigel arrived carrying flowers for me (photo above). He’d asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I really couldn’t think of anything (if we want something, we usually just buy it). I think he came up with a good choice—all I really want is to be thought of.

We went out for dinner that evening with family, going to a place that’s become a favourite, Postman’s Leg in Glenfield. It was very nice.

I’d received some phone calls and also some social media messages, but the latter were from people who know me reasonably well or who saw one of my birthday-related posts. The bulk of social media messages came today, and there’s a reason for that.

Facebook alerts users when a friend is having a birthday in the user’s timezone, not that of the friend. So, for example, my birthday is January 21. For NZ and Australian friends, if it said anything at all (I’m not sure it did, due to a setting), it would be that my birthday was that day, which was the day I was in. But by the time the notifications got to the Americas (after I’d re-checked my settings), it was already January 22 here. So, according to their Facebook notification, they were right on time, but the reality is, they were a day late.

I have the same problem in reverse: Facebook tells me a friend in the Americas is having a birthday, but I know it’s telling me a day early. So, I wait a day, and then very often I completely forget. I just wish Facebook would tell us it’s someone’s birthday when the date arrives where the friend is, not where we are.

Still, it’s the thought that counts, and I don’t think it matters if the birthday greetings are late (or early…). I just really enjoy people acknowledging my birthday, which is why I try to remember to do the same for others. It makes the day even more special, I think.

And, my birthday was special. Both of them.