THAT BIRTHDAY

What were my parents thinking? Partying over Easter only to deliver a child at the end of December? Betty's story about my birth was that I was due on Christmas Day. That was her birthday and she'd suffered for years with a lack of recognition or special presents so she was determined not to let that happen to her child. On 31 December, a photographer from the West Australian newspaper did the rounds of the maternity ward looking for the most likely New Year's Day baby to go on the front of the paper. But Betty wasn't going to have that either. After days in an un-airconditioned hospital during a heat wave, she was in no fit position to have her photo taken. So she went to work and I was born at 9pm. 

If Betty worried about Christmas Day as a terrible day for a birthday, New Year's Eve isn't much better. For years I've either sulked, pretended it didn't happen or gone to someone else's party.  If I was lucky, on some years MTC had a show opening and I could invite some friends and go to the after party.

I still bear the scars of a trip to the Eastern States as a teenager in 1969 where the family forgot my birthday completely. A few days later there were profuse apologies and the promise of a present....and I'm still waiting. You can see me looking grumpy in the photograph. 

The tension around the 31 December increases when it's one of those birthdays that end in 0. There was the surprise 30th which was no longer a surprise  when Sister Veronica Brady spilled the beans.

1984- Susan, Ann & John Jackson
 

Then there was the surprise 40th which Susan kindly organised but on the way to "drinks with a couple of friends", all I did was complain about the venue. MTC  had had an opening night party there a month or so early for a show with indigenous performers and on that night, I called the place out on the racist attitude of some of their staff. Poor Susan. All her well intentioned plans and all I did was whinge about where we were going. So no more surprise birthday parties for me.

For this number, I graciously accepted an invitation to dinner with friends and we had a delightful meal with two birthday cakes! 

2024 - Glenda, Susan, Davdi, Kath, Ann, Mike, Fiona, Julian, Pam
2019 - New Year's Eve from Susan's window

 The only thing I missed about this last birthday in   Melbourne was our New Year's Eve tradtion of sitting in Susan's bedroom on the top floor of the Pink House, looking out over the city's fireworks. Sipping a glass of champagne, no crowds to deal with. Just sound and  colour and movement. I confess that the photo  doesn't capture the full glory but you get the idea. 


We could glimpse the occasional explosion of colour from the kitchen in Glenlyon Rd but it wasn't quite as spectacular. 

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