Totally Wicked

Well, the Birthday festivities concluded yesterday, just in time for Halloween. Which is perfect, because last night my Mom and I went to see Wicked.

I’m a little bit of a theatre buff. In my former life I actually went to a play a week and wrote reviews – thank you student ticket pricing. Naturally, as a dramatic closeted hopeless romantic, my favourite musical will always be Phantom of the Opera. I love everything about it, including the feeling that I get “singing” Think of Me while sitting in the Pantages (it is the Pantages, not the Canon – deal with it). Although, I have to admit, I received tickets for my 13th birthday and had to leave during intermission as I was scared silly. I actually believed the phantom would come through my mirror into my room at night. I still kind of believe that, and for that reason, I still don’t have a single mirror in my bedroom. I digress.

Wicked was wonderful. I had heard from friends that it was their favourite musical of all time. Excuse me? Do we now have another addition to the Les Mis/Phantom “top of the pack” group. Those have always been the front-runners, and you never love both – one or the other. So, needless to say, I was surprised that Wicked was selected as top dog. I can now see why. From Glinda (or Ge-linda) to Elphaba – I truly enjoyed the music, the costumes, the set and of course – learning about the Witches of Oz.

So Torontonians, take flight. Get on your broomstick, or hop in a cab, whichever, and fly on down to see Wicked. It may not be the Phantom, but it warmed my tin man heart.

P.S. – the lead changed during half-time (wow, sports enthusiast much?) I mean, intermission. Odd, I have never seen that happen before. Must have been planned, as who sits around backstage in green make-up?

16, wait 25 Candles…

It’s starting to feel like one of my favourite John Hughes movies, Sixteen Candles. No one from my immediate family had contacted me to wish me a happy birthday – and I’ve seen some of them! Did they forget? Or are they thinking I am skipping this one and pretending I’m still 24? Either way, I am feeling like Molly Ringwald minus the awful style choices.

This means I get a Jake Ryan though, right?! I’ve thought long and hard about this with one of my best friends Jenna, and by long and hard I mean a few e-mails. I’m thinking my modern Jake Ryan would be Tyler Bozak – tall, dark and handsome and slightly out of my reach… not league, right?! Riiiight?! It would definitely make my birthday this year a little bit sweeter.

25 – wow, where have the years gone? I have to say that while looking through old photos yesterday, and coming across a photo of a little girl with her whole life ahead of her, I wondered “what if she knew, what I know now?” I wonder if I would have made the same choices. Cared as long about those who broke my heart, and realized that most who have come and gone have merely been a blip on the timeline of my life.

To be honest, I don’t think I would change a thing. I haven’t been around the world, but I have met some incredible people in my travels. I have had numerous experiences that most wouldn’t be able to have in an entire lifetime. Loved and lost hard, cared deeply for friends, and have had friends who have returned the favour. I wouldn’t change any of it all. When I was 13 sitting with my Mom, munching on Smarties celebrating another year gone by, I believed my life would be a whole lot different than it is today – and that’s ok by me. I’m kind of glad I didn’t grow up to be the person I thought I would be, I’m glad I turned out to be exactly the way I am.

Speaking of my Mom, this day is really about her. She did all the work, literally. And for that, thanks Mom. Love you to death – and I appreciate you tolerating me for all of these years.

So as I blow out my candles this year, in between wishes for Jake Ryan and a Toronto Rock championship (here, here!) I will wish for another splendid 25 years of growth, love and opportunity. Cheers!

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Birthday Beats

Another one bites the dust.

I am now another year older, supposedly wiser, a few dollars richer and a few notches on the belt deeper. Oh, the tradition of the birthday celebration.

I miss the days of loot bags (I did have them this year as candy jewelry never goes out of style) and dance offs with prizes, party dresses that came to the knee and birthday cake with only a few candles.  Where did the days go of simply sending out hand-written invites and knowing your selected guests would be there with bells on from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM? The moments when streamers were all that was left on the walls and wrapping paper littered the ground to show another year celebrated? Instead, all I am left with is a killer headache and a brain filled from the whirlwind of a 5 day-birthday-bender laced with bad choices.

I save my best text messages for these nights. My best dance moves, my best lines, my best “you’ll always be my friend” heart-to-hearts and of course my most embarrassing, “if you were here…” subconscious confessions. I have realized, slowly but surely, that my birthday is grand, is fun, is fabulous until the day after. I’ve done the one apology that needed to be made, but mostly my birthday is a time for my friends to get a real kick over how silly I can actually be. How much I can let go of my usual wound up self and actually let the good times roll!

So with that, I raise a glass, to the new phase of birthday traditions. To having a classy heart felt dinner to celebrate with the people I love the most, and concluding it with a birthday beat-down bash resulting in having those same people remember why they love me after all. Cheers!