Kenric and I were going to go to Catalina Island for my birthday. The ten-day weather forecast was not favorable, and I had been secretly hoping to do a fundraiser for the cats in Kotor, Montenegro. So, on January 4th, we canceled the trip. That’s when Grandma decided she would throw a birthday party for me and invite relatives who are nearby to celebrate my birthday one day early, on Sunday.
When she found out that it would be the third birthday party I’ve ever had in my entire life, she said she has to make it a good one. She asked when the other two were. I said the first one was thrown by an ex-boyfriend in college when I was 23, and the second was by Kenric was I was 35. I turned 44 this year. I’ve had friends meet at a restaurant for my birthday dinner one other time, and my beloved CATI kids (my team) always got me a cake the last few years we were together at work.
People have fallen asleep at parties here
Grandma was pretty was sad for me. I don’t know why that got me so emotional because I’ve never even wanted a birthday party. That’s actually one of the few good things about growing up poor; you learn to be realistic about what you can and cannot have; and what you cannot have, you don’t want. Anyway, Grandma said she must make this a good party, but also warned that people had fallen asleep at the parties here. She was not kidding about making it fun because I heard her ask Kenric if he would like to serve wine!
A birthday card came in the mail before my birthday with permission to put the birthday money toward my “cat rescue fund”. I woke up on the day of the party to a new donation all the way from Australia. Kenric’s sister, cousins, uncle and his girlfriend brought awesome balloons, flowers, cards, chocolates, etc. Grandma and Kenric made three of my favorites; Beef Stroganoff, Zucchini Casserole and Broccoli Salad. They were really delicious, much better than when Kenric and I made them. I hope he learned her secrets because I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen. All eight people enjoyed the food tremendously. I thanked Grandma multiple times for hosting the party. She said it was fun for her too. Yes, it was fun, but I don’t need another one.
My birthday went down the toilet
The next morning, on my actual birthday, Grandma knocked on the door at around 8 am. “Kenric, the toilet just keeps running. I’ve been trying to fix it for half an hour.” Oops! I used the toilet around 7:15. A part in the tank was broken. I thought, “It’s too early for my birthday to go down the toilet.” I got a card from Grandma at breakfast, and opened the gifts from Kenric’s parents when I had more birthday cake with dinner.
The Amazon delivery guy brought the best gift – same-day delivery of the toilet tank part which the local Home Depot would have had to special order. We really didn’t want to manually flush the toilet for four more days. Another great gift from the universe was that the toilet didn’t malfunction when everyone was over for the party and that it broke down before Kenric’s aunt and uncle arrive tomorrow! Thank you in advance to all the TSA agents who are still willing to go to work without pay.
I turned to superstition for a fresh start
Many Chinese get a haircut before the start of a new year (Lunar New Year, Western calendar year, birth year) as a symbol of a fresh start. I didn’t. Some also cut their nails for the same reason. I did. When I put my socks on this morning, I realized I had skipped my left foot completely. I forgot to clip 25% of my nails and I’m 25% off my fundraising goal. So please go donate.
Once we get another $315, I will cut my toenails. I know, I know; hunger strikes never made sense to me either, but I’m going to try this anyway, for the innocent kitties’ sake. Every homeless female cat that is spayed will be saved from a life of eternal pregnancies popping out kittens that are usually dead on arrival with Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
P.S. Kenric suggested I clarify the math.
- The goal is $2,500.
- Donation match: $1,250 from you guys + $1,250 from us. Online donations so far ($910) + Cash ($25) = $935.
- $935/$1,250 = 74.8%
This Fundraiser For Danijela Has Ended
Donate Meow! For the cats of Kotor and their angel, Danijela K.
– GoFundMe