Happy To You!

When my younger brother was a toddler, he would sing the birthday song every time he saw a candle (of any size) being lit.  "Happy to you!  Happy to you!"  It was adorable.  Sometimes my mother would light a candle for him, just to see the joy of singing the birthday song spread across his little face.  And now, whenever I think of birthdays (or candles for that matter), I think of my brother singing that song.

When I was just turning 11, my grandmother turned 65.  We had an enormous birthday party for her.  There were enlarged black and white pictures of her at every age decorating the house.  There was an enormous cake with sixty-five burning candles.  There were balloons.  Lots of balloons.  Grammy was surrounded by family - all of her brothers, sisters and closest friends were in attendence.  That is the way to celebrate!  And now, whenever I think of birthdays, I think of balloons.

For me, birthdays are meant to be surrounded by loved ones, birthday cakes, candles and balloons.  I hope that each of my birthdays will have these most basic components.  But for my 80th birthday?  That birthday will be a blow-out!  It will be in 2064.  Which means I will have survived the Mayan Apocalypse in 2012 by 52 years.  Take that, ancient civilization!  And for my family that might be reading?  Please take note of my wishes for my 80th.

Balloons.  Lots of balloons.  I know that balloons will have been banned by 2064, for killing the whales or whatever.  But I want balloons at my birthday party.  So you'll just have to smuggle them in.

Cake.  Lots of cake.  I know that cake will have been banned by 2064, for causing cancer and diabetes or whatever.  But I want cake at my birthday party.  So you'll just have to smuggle it in.

Candles.  Lots of candles.  I know that candles will have been banned by 2064, for adding to our carbon footprings or whatever.  But I want 80 freaking birthday candles on my illegal cake.  So you'll just have to smuggle them in.

Singing.  Lots of singing.  I hope that singing will not have been banned (yet) by 2064, since it can truly bring people and cultures together.  But if singing has been banned, for causing too much happiness or whatever, I want it anyway.  And if the cops break up our party for singing, and then find the illicit balloons, cake and candles, you can point your fingers at me.  I'll take the blame, and will head off to jail singing "Happy to you!  Happy to you!"

This has been inspired by the Red Writing Hood prompt,

"Describe your 80th birthday party" over at The Red Dress Club.