Is it bad...

when the person you are visiting in the hospital tells you that you look tired?

Saturday

I hate winter. The darkness depresses me. The cold depresses me. I want to curl up under my covers and read a good book or a magazine. Anything but work. I'd rather clean my house than work. This sermon does not want to come. And then I feel like a horrible, awful person--like I'm not good at anything. And that depresses me and I get even less done.

I'm working at changing some of my habits to be healthier. I'm eating better--relatively. I'm exercising more--relatively. But I haven't figured out how to change the mental habits yet. I'm working at it--finding a way to create a schedule that doesn't put me in a position to feel like a schmuck because I'm writing a sermon on Saturday morning for Saturday night and feeling like it sucks and I suck.

Preparation Friday 5

Sally at Revgals writes:This has been a difficult week for me, the death of a little six year old has overshadowed our advent preparations, and made many of us here in Downham Market look differently at Christmas. With that in mind I ask whether you are the kind of person that likes everything prepared well in advance, are you a last minute crammer, or a bit of a mixture.....Here then is this weeks Friday 5:



1. You have a busy week, pushing out all time for preparing worship/ Sunday School lessons/ being ready for an important meeting ( or whatever equivalent your profession demands)- how do you cope?

Cope? I'm not sure I do. I guess I just do my best to get through it and hope for the best.



2. You have unexpected visitors, and need to provide them with a meal- what do you do?
Take them out somewhere. I'm not much of a cook--even for planned guests. Unexpected visitors definitely warrant going out.


Three discussion topics:
3. Thinking along the lines of this weeks advent theme; repentance is an important but often neglected aspect of advent preparations.....
True--but I don't have the energy to reflect more on that now.

4. Some of the best experiences in life occur when you simply go with the flow.....
Also, probably true--even if it's not my strong suit to go with the flow. I need plans. Once a have a plan A, I'm open to change it, but I need to start with a plan.

5. Details are everything, attention to the small things enables a plan to roll forward smoothly...
I'm a detail person. Always have been. It's the "J" in me. But I'm realistic enough that details aren't all that makes things run smoothly. The big picture is important too.

Bonus if you dare- how well prepared are you for Christmas this year?
This depends on what you mean by prepared. I'm preparing in ways that are meaningful to me--buying the gifts I need to buy, doing the things at church that I need to, and not stressing about the rest. I'm not sending cards--at least not now. I'm not putting up decorations--I know, call me the grinch, but they are more work to me than preparation. Feeling calm and anticipating the joy of Christmas Eve and the week of vacation to follow is much more important to me right now.

I Heard It!

She said I might not be able to hear it and not to worry if I didn't because it's early. But I heard it! And everything looks, sounds, feels normal. Yeah!

June 30, 2008 or so

I can hardly wait. I'm overwhelmed--by anxiety and by excitement.

Can we say OCD?

November has been a busy month, not really eventful. Things have happened that I want to post about, but I just don't have the energy. But I'm OCD enough that if the archives don't list November, it will drive me crazy, so I need to post. Isn't that exciting?

It's a Pumpkin/Apple Friday Five

Singing Owl writes:
All Hallows Eve (Halloween) is near. As a child, Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. We didn’t yet worry about razor blades in apples or popcorn balls or some of the other concerns people have with Halloween these days. Halloween was a chance to be mildly scared, and better yet, to dress up and pretend to be something we really weren’t. Let’s talk about that a bit, but then let’s add in some food ideas for this year. Where I live the leaves are falling, the temperature is chilly and pumpkins are for sale everywhere, along with many kids of apples. What's more, the "Holiday Season" will soon be upon us. ACK! I could use a new idea for dessert. So, here we go…

1. How did you celebrate this time of year when you were a child?
Dressing up and trick-or-treating. When my older sister decided she was too old to go with me, the number of houses I went to shrunk dramatically. I only went to a select number of homes in the neighborhood where I knew the people. I did enjoy the whole costume production though. It seems we usually created something--or at least some part of the costume. The least fun I remember was standing on the kitchen table wearing white tights while my mom pinned green ribbon all around my legs in order to create Strawberry Shortcake tights.

2. Do you and/or your family “celebrate” Halloween? Why or why not? And if you do, has it changed from what you used to do?
We did the trick-or-treating thing; occasionally had a jack-o-lantern. Now, I do a "Trick or Trunk" event at my congregation. (People sign up to be in the parking lot, decorate their cars and handout candy from their trunks. The building is open for bathroom use or to warm up.)

(Bonus) 2. Candy apples: Do you prefer red cinnamon or caramel covered? Or something else?
Of the two, I prefer caramel covered. I don't like cinnamon in candy. I'd actually prefer apple chunks to dip in caramel--more caramel to apple ratio.

3. Pumpkins: Do you make Jack O’ Lanterns? Any ideas of what else to do with them?
I don't make jack-o-lanterns. I appreciate other's, but it's not worth it to me.

4. Do you decorate your home for fall or Halloween? If so, what do you do? Bonus points for pictures.
Not really. I guess I have a few fall decorations that I pull out if people will be coming to my house for Thanksgiving.

5. Do you like pretending to be something different? Does a costume bring our an alternate personality?
I like doing something different every year. My costumes generally don't bring out an alternate personality, but I suppose they could.

Bonus: Share your favorite recipe for an autumn food, particularly apple or pumpkin ones.
I'm not a great cook, but a great stuffing for cornish hens (though I suppose it would work in bigger birds too) is apples, craisins, and celery. Stuffing the cornish hens with them helps with moisture, makes the bird taste good, and is yummy to eat too.

7-10 Split

Why this analogy seems meaningful? Not so sure. But here goes....You know when bowling how you sometimes get the 7-10 split--the back corner pin on either side? Then, if you are not a professional bowler, you have two main choices. Aim for the right or aim for the left. And then, more often than not, the ball still ends up sailing right down the middle and hitting neither. So, you really have a third choice--just give up trying and let it go straight down the center. I feel like I'm standing with a 20 pound bowling ball in my hand, trying to decide where to aim. Really--does it matter? Standing here holding this heavy ball isn't getting me anywhere.

Preoccupation

I've begun this post about fourteen times. I want to post. I want this blog to be a place to write about what's going on for me and in me. I want to know that if people stop by to read, they'll find something.

But at the moment, everything seems to take so much effort. I'm emotionally exhausted--mostly from trying to hide the fact that I'm emotionally exhausted and preoccupied.

A few posts ago (http://homeforwords.blogspot.com/2007/07/two-letters.html), I wondered about which letter to send. I decided. And I think it's right. I decided, after tons of conversation with my husband, to proceed with the potential call process. But the problem is the waiting. The congregation is not going to vote for another two weeks--and I can't tell very many people. That preoccupies my thoughts. That and the fact that I really need to leave this place. It's no longer good for me. It was, it has been, but it's not now. And I really hate to say it because I do love the people here, but I can't keep this up.

There's so much more to say, so much going on, but I just can't now.

Cricket Torture

When I was in high school and during summers home from college, I worked at my hometown public library. This library owned a copy of the lovely Eric Carle book entitled The Very Quiet Cricket. The cricket in that book was anything but quiet. It was supposed to chirp only when the book was held open. However, it chirped constantly. Unless, of course, you found the book, opened it, and slammed it shut really, really hard. It seemed that this job often fell to me. And, it was in fact, rather fun to search out the sound and find the book. (Children's picture books were in bins--supposedly by the first letter of the author's last name. They were often not in the "right" place because kids had rummaged through them.)

I wish this cricket was as easy to silence. I have a cricket chirping in my office. I can find its general vicinity. If I could find it, I'd take it outside. I'd even leave it here...if it would just be quiet! It started late this morning--I decided to leave early for lunch. It has resumed now--guess it's time to leave for today!

If it starts again tomorrow...well, I'm not sure what I'll do. Hopefully it will have found a new home by then.

Two Letters

Which one should I send? (Okay, somewhat obviously, these are rough drafts and details will be filled in as the decision is made. But I really feel that I need to have a pretty good idea before Monday as we are going to some serious planning for this school year and if I might be leaving, it makes a big difference.) Enough commentary...

Letter #1
Dear beloved people of Current Congregation,

It is with thankfulness that I write this letter to you. I want to thank you for the past four years. It was with your support and love that I was transformed from a scared seminarian to a confident pastor. I have learned so much in this time with you. We've shared joyful times and difficult ones. We've worshiped God together. We've learned and we've laughed.
I believe with my whole heart that being called to this place was God's intention for me. I was called by you as a congregation to lead you for this time, but the time as come for me to lead another part of the body of Christ.
I have accepted a call to another congregation. My last day here with you will be....


Letter #2
Dear Call Committee of Potential Place,

I want to thank you for the time you have spent with me and for your confidence in me. I am honored and pleased that you believe I have the gifts to be your next pastor. I was pleased to meet all of you and believe that your congregation is a lovely place. However, after significant time spent in prayer and in conversation with many people who I trust, I feel that I must withdraw my name from your process.
I pray that God will lead the right person to you. You will be in my prayers.

Wow--both of these sounded different in my head and now I can't write either of them. I can't write a good-bye letter to my current congregation even though I want so badly to be gone. I can't write a letter withdrawing my name from a place that wants me, but that's in a place my husband does not want to go and would require us to live in two households for at least many months. All I want to know is what the right thing to do is...and I don't know.

Anniversaries and Elusive Happiness

This time of year is like an emotional minefield for me, never knowing quite how the days will pass, never knowing what might unleash a torrent of unavoidable tears, not knowing if the days might pass in a simple silent remembrance or an almost forgotten whisper.

These days are anniversaries. Friday was the anniversary of my dad's death. This year marks 20 years. He was 55. I was 9. He was too young; so was I. Saturday was the anniversary of the visitation. And today, today is the anniversary of my dad's funeral. And also, what would have been my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. (Yes, his funeral was on their 20th wedding anniversary. He knew it would be--he had said that he'd either die or we'd have the funeral that day when he was sent home two weeks earlier with oxygen, pain medication, and the reality that this was the end of the treatment and the end of this life. I almost wrote sent home without hope, but that's not true. We had lots of hope--hope for a miracle, and also hope for fulfillment of God's promises.)

Some years these anniversaries aren't so bad--sometimes they aren't so good. This year, not so good. I did a wedding on Friday and another was here on Saturday. A lovely couple celebrated their anniversary today and provided flowers. And all these pointed to my dad, pointed to my family. And I wanted to cry.

And Saturday I received a letter I didn't want to get. And I didn't realize how much I wanted things to turn out differently. I interviewed at a congregation not too far away from here. It would require a move--but a move that would be closer to my (step)kids and a move that would allow my husband to keep his current job and commute. I wasn't really sure this was the place for me, but I wanted it to be. I didn't want to hear that a congregation didn't want me--or at least didn't want to talk to me one more time or hear me preach or... I didn't realize how much this would hurt.

And in response, I ended up fighting with my husband, crying and asking only to be left alone. I ended up feeling alone and lonely and sad and hurtful and like happiness was not mine to have. And I know that's not fair. We worked it out and went to bed okay with each other. But still I woke up in the night and lay there for an hour--very unlike me--unsure of where to go from here.

Today, this evening, I feel like happiness is less elusive, but I'm still sad. I'm still tired. I still don't know where to go next. But I'll take today. I'll face tomorrow and go from there. Not much else that I can do.

An Unnamed Woman ~ Luke 7:36-50

My first instinct was to post this asking for thoughts, comments, and responses about whether this will work as my sermon this weekend, but realized that it's what I'm using anyhow, since I won't have time to come up with anything else. So...I still crave thoughts, comments, and responses, just please don't tell me it won't work as my sermon!

I must admit that today’s gospel lesson is one of my favorites. Sure, we don’t know much about the woman in this passage. She’s unnamed. We don’t know if she’s old or young, married or single, mother or not. The only descriptor used for her is sinner. Many have speculated about her identity, trying to make assumptions about what this means exactly or what woman named elsewhere she might be. But the truth is we don’t know. All we do know is recorded in these few short verses.

But somehow this woman’s story resonates with me. She is a sinner who weeps at Jesus’ feet and walks away forgiven. Sounds an awful lot like my story; sounds an awful lot like our story. When we gather for worship, we live this story. We confess our sin, come to the feet of Jesus at his table, receive his body and blood, and walk away forgiven. So, travel back with me to that Pharisee’s house, to that dinner with Jesus. Indulge me as I tell this woman’s story as my own, as I put words in her mouth and speak as if I know the story of her life. Put yourself in her place too; allow yourself to feel as if you are the one speaking. If it’s helpful to you, feel free to close your eyes. Either way, listen to this unnamed woman’s story—this story that is our story too.



I was aware of how sinful I was. I had made many bad choices. Often, it seemed that I could do nothing right. No matter what my good intentions were, I still sinned. Of course, there were times when I did good things or made good choices. However, some people just could not see that in me. All they were willing or able to see were the bad things that I had done. Why could they not see the good in me? Was there really so little? I knew that some of my choices had been contrary to God’s commands. I knew that. I did not need to be reminded of each and every sinful thing that I had ever done. There was nothing I could do to erase the past. If I could have made changes in the things I had done, I would have. But the past was gone and over. If only others could see that this was so, maybe I could do better in the future. It was so hard to do good when no one expected that of me.

And so I came to Jesus. I knew that coming to Jesus was the only way that I could move forward in my life. Maybe he would have pity on me. Maybe he would have mercy on me. I had heard that Jesus accepted all kinds of people. He even ate with many evil people. Maybe, just maybe, he would not turn me away. He would look at me and see me—not all the terrible things that I have done in my life.

But what if he didn’t? What if he was no different than all the rest? What if I had done too many horrible things? What if he couldn’t look past them? I remembered all my bad choices and all I could do was cry when I came near to him. I fell at his feet and wept, wept for all the terrible things that I had ever done, wept in sorrow for alienating myself from everyone by the choices that I had made, wept in the fear that Jesus would tell me to go away and call me a sinner just as all those gathered around him did. I did the only thing I could do. I used my tears to wash Jesus’ feet. I dried the tears from his feet with my hair. I could hear the people all around us telling Jesus how terrible I was and how he should not be letting himself be touched by such a horrible person. I tried my hardest to ignore them as I continued my task of washing Jesus’ feet. I touched his feet with all the love that I had in me. I knew that showing Jesus my love and repentance was the only thing that I had, the only thing that I could give of myself amidst the truth of the terrible things they said. The only gift I had to give to this magnificent Jesus was myself—my poor, broken, sinful self.

And then, the most amazing thing happened! Jesus accepted the gift of myself! Jesus said to me, “Your sins are forgiven.” I couldn’t help but to hope for forgiveness when I came to Jesus, but I was realistic not to expect it. I surely did not deserve it. The joy that filled my being when Jesus offered me forgiveness is indescribable. Jesus forgave me! Jesus did not listen to the voices that were more than willing to condemn me. Jesus’ voice was the one that echoed in my head. “Your sins are forgiven.” I could leave that place with my head held high. I was forgiven. Yes, I was sinful and would always make mistakes, but more important than that was that I was forgiven.

And so now, when I make a mistake, when I sin, I remember the words Jesus spoke to me. “Your sins are forgiven.” I remember Jesus and the hope he gave me. I am able to live my life without the weight of my sinful self constantly bearing down on me. I can live in the joy of forgiveness. And I’m still learning what that means for my life. Each day brings new challenges, new thoughts, new opportunities. Each day is a new day to live in the joy of forgiveness, to lift my head and tackle whatever comes my way. Each day gives me a chance to share this joy with others and to live into this promise. Each day is a new chance to live into the joy of Jesus’ forgiveness.

Amen.

Making Space

The heaviness of winter’s air is starting to lift
The promise of spring looms in front of me
The darkness of the night makes way for the light of day
Outside spring is in full force
Outside the sun shines brightly
But inside, I’m making space
Opening my heart to the promise of a springtime in my life
Waiting for the new thing
Anticipating what lies ahead
Knowing that I can face the remaining days of cold and darkness

Friday Five ~ Dental Edition

1. Are you a regular patron of dentists' offices? Or, do you go
a) faithfully, as long as you have insurance, or
b) every few years or so, whether you need it or not, or
c) dentist? what is this "dentist" thing you speak of?
I hate to admit it, but c. I really, really, really hate going to the dentist. So much that I haven't found a dentist in the four years that I've had insurance that would cover it. In the years I didn't have dental insurance, it didn't make me sad to not go.

2. Whatever became of your wisdom teeth?
All four are now gone. While in college, I had oral surgery to remove them as all four were impacted and some were growing into my sinus cavities. I think surgery was better than pulling would have been. At least I got to be put under! In recovering, I did have dry sockets that hurt a lot! Ibuprofen became my best friend along with mashed potatoes and other soft food.

3. Favorite thing to eat that's BAAAAAD for your teeth.
I like sugary caffeinated carbonated beverages--like Pepsi. But I'm working on cutting all that out.

4. Ever had oral surgery?
See number 2.

5. "I'd rather have a root canal than _________________."
I've never had a root canal...but I don't know anything worse than any dental procedure, so I guess I'll leave this blank.

Bonus: Does your dentist recommend Trident?
Since I don't have a dentist...guess I can't answer this one either.


Okay, okay, I'll find a dentist! Soon. I think.

Friday Five ~ "Clergy Superbowl" Edition

1. Will this Sunday be Palms only, Passion only, or hyphenated?
Hyphenated. We'll read the Palm Sunday reading early in the service and later use the Passion narrative (read in a 'reader's theater' kind of way) as the gospel reading/sermon. First year we've done that here--basically because senior pastor doesn't want to write a sermon this year. Not because it's part of some master plan for a meaningful Holy Week. Okay--no more venting (in this post anyway).

2. Maundy Thursday Footwashing: Discuss.
As much as I don't like footwashing because I simply hate feet, I think it can be done well. I have been on both sides--the washee and the washer. It was hard to be the washee, not because my pastor (I was a teen at the time) was washing my feet, but because the rest of the congregation was watching. What kind of look was I supposed to have? I don't like people touching my feet--could I grimace? Should I smile? What should I be feeling? On the other hand, I've only be the washer once--while in seminary doing field ed. In this particular case, the people whose feet we washed were two little children, who had not yet been baptized. That was meaningful for me...that God still loved, served, gave his life for these lovely children...and this water was just water, but a sign to me of the promise that was to come for them in the waters of baptism.

3. Share a particularly meaningful Good Friday worship experience.
The tradition of my family growing up was always meaningful. At noon (or early afternoon), we went to a service at another Lutheran church in our town. They had a statue(? It hung from the ceiling, so I'm not sure of the right word.) of Jesus that was above the altar in the center of their sanctuary (in the round). I don't recall any outside windows, so even though it was mid-day, it was dark. As we heard the story once again, the lights were dimmed and gradually, a black veil was lifted to cover Jesus. We left in darkness and silence. Then, we would often go back to our own congregation for an evening tenebrae service, particularly meaningful when I didn't expect the Bible or a door to be slammed shut. I think the most meaningful aspect though of Good Friday for me remains the leaving in darkness and silence. Even as the leader, that's how I want the service to end. I don't want to be asked a question that can wait until another day; I don't want to make small talk. I want to spend one evening totally focused on Jesus and what he gave up for us.

4. Easter Sunrise Services--choose one:a) "Resurrection tradition par excellence!"b) "Eh. As long as it's sunrise with coffee, I can live with it."c) "[Yawn] Can't Jesus stay in the tomb just five more minutes, Mom?!?"
A!! I'm not a morning person; every other Sunday, I'm snuggled under my covers convincing myself that I really don't need that extra five minutes to get ready. The bed is so much more important. But on Easter Sunday--I want to start the celebration in the dark, bleary eyed and slow moving as I get ready. I want to be one of the first to the church, where I am greeted with semi-darkness and the overwhelming first smell of the Easter lilies as I open the door. I want to greet other bleary eyed travelers on this faith journey and share the amazement that Christ is risen. I want to worship in joy and celebration and gradually increasing light.

5. Complete this sentence: It just isn't Easter without...
Greeting people with this phrase..."Christ is risen!" and being greeted in reply with "He is risen indeed. Alleluia!" I'm still working at training this congregation in this habit; it makes me so sad to not have this.

Bonus: Any Easter Vigil aficionados out there? Please share.
I've only been to very modified Easter vigils that I've led, using a set-up that was given to me as to what was done in the past. I'd like to attend one, and one done really well, so I have a good frame of reference.

Biblical Literacy, Biblical Fluency, and Beautiful Words

I’m not convinced that my words will come together as eloquently as I’d wish, but I’m going to give it a try. In the past few months, I have attended a number of workshops and retreats and pieces of each have come together in a variety of ways.

One of the things we church leaders (as least in my denomination) often speak of is biblical illiteracy, a lack of biblical knowledge, of people not knowing the Bible. While the speaker I heard wouldn’t disagree, I don’t think, he made a distinction between literacy and fluency.

The comparison is learning a language. It is possible to be fluent before being literate. A first stage is recognizing the language when it is spoken around you. Then, you can pick out a few words. Later, you can understand it when it’s spoken. Then you can speak it. And eventually, you can learn to read and write it. For example, think of how you learned your first language. You were probably fluent before you were literate, though you continued learning.

Anyway, so what if the problem in many of our churches is not so much biblical literacy as biblical fluency? We don’t even recognize the language when it is spoken around us. And the only solution is hearing and absorbing the language of the Bible.

On another note, lately I’ve been listening to books on CD, surrounding myself with beautiful words. This started when I was driving many hours each week. But this habit has continued, even if it’s only a few moments in the car on my way to work or home.

And so, this Lenten season, I’m surrounding myself with beautiful words—the beautiful words of the Bible. While, in the grand scheme of things, my biblical fluency is pretty high, as is my biblical literacy, it really can’t hurt to increase both or surround myself with these beautiful words.

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit? (you can be vague to preserve your anonymity if you like)
There isn't one--at least that I've found in the four or so years I've lived here.

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy?
When visiting another city, there are usually certain things that I want to see and make an effort to do so. Sometimes it means cramming a lot in. Other times it's slow and easy.

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________?
Strolling through a museum...or checking out local restaurants, I guess.

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens?
I like plans and organization. But I don't want every minute structured either.

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home?
I miss my own pillow, my own bed, my own shower. I crave the ability to not live out of a suitcase.

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five

It's been a very full, busy week. Here's the F5, short and sweet.

The questions are simple, the answers unlimited. Go!

Who Director of Youth and Family Ministry, my friend

What turned in her letter of resignation

When yesterday

Where at my congregation

Why because she got a different job and she has been unhappy here

Bonus: How it makes me feel? Very happy for her. Mixed feelings for me. I'm sad because I'll really miss her. We really helped support each other, both in terms of helping each other out when need be, but also to encourage each other through the challenges of relating with senior pastor. I'm relieved, because I will no longer be in the middle between her and senior pastor, even when they didn't intentionally put me there. I'm motivated because it's part of the push I needed to work on completing the paperwork required to make myself available for a different call. I'm worried about what additional stuff I'm going to have to take on in the near future. But most of all, I'm going to miss her.

What Accuracy!

You Are 0% Extrovert, 100% Introvert

You avoid people at all costs You aren't one for social interaction And you limit your interaction to a select few Thank God for self checkout!

Are You An Extrovert or An Introvert?

Here's to Becoming Healthier?

I'm not really much of a resolution maker, at least not particularly in relationship to the beginning of a new year. But this year, my husband and I decided that we need to be healthier. Neither of us are horribly unhealthy; we don't get sick much or have major health problems. Both of us are a few pounds overweight, but not outrageously so. We both want our clothes to fit right again.

So this is what we've tried to do:
1. Eliminate the beloved Pepsi products from our life. (Neither of us can drink diet and I'm at high risk for osteoporosis which caffeine and carbonation are bad for. The only thing going for me is that I don't and have never smoked.)
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
3. Eat at home more so that we eat less fat, grease, and otherwise bad for you stuff.
4. Exercise every day.

We started on January 2nd and have done fairly well.

I've had these results:
1. A sore throat and snuffly nose
2. A headache just about every day
3. An upset tummy the past few days
4. A back so out of whack that it will take at least 3 visits to the chiropractor this week to get me straightened out. (The shooty, tingling pain down the leg is no good.)

So--am I becoming healthier? Or should I go back to eating unhealthfully and being a slug?

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five

Okay--it's a new year, time to try something new...my first foray into the Friday Five!

1. "It's my party and I'll [blank] if I want to..."
Favorite way to celebrate your birthday (dinner with family? party with friends? a day in solitude?)
I want to be able to celebrate with my family. A nice dinner sounds good. My husband remembering the day is also helpful. (In his defense, he remembers, he's usually just a day early. The only time he's ever early!)

2. "You say it's your birthday... it's my birthday too, yeah..."
Do you share your birthday with someone famous?
Maria Montessori ~ I thought that was especially cool when I was in early childhood education classes.
Debbie Gibson ~ This was even cooler when I was in junior high and she was big.

3. "Lordy Lordy look who's forty..."
Milestone birthdays:
a) just like any other birthday--they're just numbers, people.
b) a good opportunity to look back/take stock
c) enjoy the black balloons--I'll be hiding under a pile of coats until the day is over
d) some combination of the above, or something else entirely.
A, I guess. The milestones I've hit haven't seemed a big deal. Ask next year.

4. "Happy birthday, dear... Customer..."
Have you ever been sung to in a restaurant? Fun or cringe-worthy?
I know I have...must have been somewhat cringe-worthy. Otherwise I'd have better memories of it.

5. "Take my birthday--please"
Tell me one advantage and one disadvantage about your particular birthday (e.g. birthday in the summer--never had to go to school; birthday near Christmas--the dreaded joint presents)
EDITED TO ADD: This could also simply be something you like/dislike about your birthday (e.g. I like sharing a birthday with my best friend, etc.).
Disadvantage ~ It seems that my birthday always falls on a weekday, which means school or work. And, more often than not, this now means that I often have to work in the evening which eliminates the spending time with my family that day.
Advantage ~ My best friend and I share a birthday, which is cool. Our moms shared a hospital room when we were born. She's two hours older. We ended up not meeting until junior high but became instant friends that have stood the test of time.