Birthdays are birthdays, whether in America or China. The Chinese do not celebrate birthdays among themselves as much as we might; however, if they know it is your birthday, they make every effort to bestow as many blessings and wishes upon you as possible. Technically, since I am in a zone 12 hours ahead of where I was born, my birthday did not begin until noon today. But away with technicalities. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t really feel like my birthday. Maybe I’m in denial already. I mean, I’ve reached the ¼ century mark. I’ve always felt so much younger than everyone else I knew; now, I’m up to seven years older than some of my students! Wow. I feel old. I think I’ll go take a nap.
One of my birthday 'parties.'
