My very special birthday surprise

I have officially been 23 for just over a week now. It is funny to think about how this age used to sound so old to me, and yet now here I am … out of college and 23.

I was not one of those kids who always knew what I wanted to be when I grew up (although I did spend a few years convinced I would be an MTV VJ) so I can’t say I ever had a clear idea of what I would be doing at this point in my life. The only thing I know for sure is that I never would have imagined I would begin my 23rd year volunteering in a Boys and Girls Club in a population 4,000 town in Arkansas.

Usually, for a birthday spent at the Boys and Girls Club, all the kids sing “Happy Birthday” to the lucky staff or member. My birthday had no such event. But what I did get I appreciated much more.

At the club, there is a certain newly-seven-year-old whom I had informed of my birthday, only because hers is a mere three days after mine. I didn’t really expect her to commit the date to memory, but she did — always reminding me it was almost February 4 and what was I going to do to celebrate my birthday?

On Monday she rushed up to remind me what was so special about the day (incase I had forgotten I suppose) and told me she had a very special surprise for me but she couldn’t tell me what it was. This excitement was followed by quietly singing me happy birthday. She was so excited you might have thought it was actually her birthday and not mine.


My surprises from her were: A birthday pop-up card (made at the club on Friday), a painting of a Webkinz lion (pictured above), a golden dollar (not a Sacagawea … I guess these are new?) she had found at the club, as well as many hugs and much excitement.

I suppose what makes me so happy about my birthday surprises are they make me feel like I must be doing something right at the club. I am building real relationships with the kids and letting them know that they are valuable and cared for.

So, without a doubt, I never thought one of my favorite 23rd birthday presents would be a seven-year-old’s rendition of a Webkinz … about as much as I never thought I would live in Arkansas. But I guess that’s just one of the things I love about this opportunity.


Becca