My parent's family used to celebrate birthdays, even though only by giving a congratulation statements, without parties or gifts. Until today my parents, sisters and brothers still sending me SMS reminding me my birthday.
Birthday is a day to remembering our dreams and what have we achieved. For me its simply a day to ask 'what have you been?' or sing Syair Abu Nuwas (a gay poet) especially on parts: wa 'umry nāqish fi kulli yaumy, wa zanby zāid un kaifa ihtimāly. (umurku berkurang setiap hari, sedangkan dosaku bertambah, bagaimana aku menanggungnya).
When we were in Indonesia, we never made serious parties for both Elkana and Farhan's birthdays. We used to delivered birthday cakes to our surrounding neighbours who did not know what was the cakes for. The last one I remember was Elkana's 5th birthday that we held few days before we went to Melbourne. We prepared everything except circulating invitation. On the day, we just asked Elkana and Farhan to bring their friends who used to play outside house to come inside. Then we sang, eat snacks, drink juices, and gave those children big lolly bags and pieces of birthday cake. Elkana was very happy.
However, when these boys grew up, they knew that celebrating birthdays meant getting toys and presents. For Elkana's birthday we could not say no for having a small party at home. For Farhan's 6th birthday we could manage for not having a party at our house. Instead we brought cakes and lolly bags to Farhan's class room in the morning and to Farhan's friends at the After Care program in the afternoon. When Farhan realized that he did not get any presents, he then asked (all the times) that we should celebrate his 7th birthday at home. I hope this request is only for 7 years old children.
Happy birthday...
July 22, 2006
Elkana's friends in his 7th birthday.
They played pass the puzzle game.
October 31, 2006
Loretta, the coordinator of the After Care program, helped Farhan to cut the cake. It was so yummy...
October 31, 2006
Farhan's friends were singing a birthday song for Farhan before he blew the candles.
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