Birthdays have always been significant in my family and are featured events in our calendar, whether it be for special friends or whanau.
I always love to go overboard with celebrations! My 16th year around the sun signalled a chance not only for a super-fun party but also - finally - an opportunity to take my driver licence test. But then lockdown altered the game and compromised any hope I had of that all-American ‘Sweet 16’ party. And with the current level restrictions, it’s likely to be a while before I get behind the wheel.
After parking my driving aspirations (literally) I was left grappling with a Level 3, September birthday anticlimax. Even though it was all a bit unfortunate, I was lucky enough to be spending my day in a happy and comfortable family bubble.
Here’s the low-down on how my festivities rolled out:
I woke up on the morning of my birthday, somewhat less enthusiastic than previous years but still restless with excitement about what the day might entail. I trudged into the kitchen and was welcomed by a reenactment of my early childhood parties.
My sister had secretly baked and decorated a cake which was a replica of the one I had for my 5th birthday (well, almost). She had also dredged up all the old cheesy decorations from those nostalgic times and adorned the living room - this really put a grin on my face. Then there was a nice warm brekkie with all my favourites: a delicious plateful of scrambled eggs, bacon, tomatoes, hash browns and avocado toast. Pleasantly satiated, I proceeded to my room to endure a gruelling day of online classes.
As I logged off from Microsoft Teams in the late afternoon, I was greeted with a cake cutting ceremony and presents. Frankly I was very thankful for anything, as I knew Level 4 restrictions had brought online ordering to a near standstill.
My most beloved present was a gorgeous 'Stolen Girlfriends' necklace. My mum and I spotted it before lockdown at a ‘Pop Up’ store on Ponsonby Road and thankfully she had the foresight to buy it and put it into hiding until my birthday arrived. It is timeless and goes with everything.
My second favourite gift was a pair of black ribcage Levi straight jeans. Levis are always my go-to jeans because they tend to fit me the best and generate quite a few compliments!
After presents, it was dinner time. My family surprised me with a Janken takeaway (my number one restaurant in Ponsonby). I was very lucky to get such a privilege, as we only moved down to Level 3 the day before my birthday. I am still grateful for this serendipitous loosening of restrictions, as non-homemade food never tasted so good (sorry Mum!). I was able to get most of my cherished dishes and devoured them all within minutes.
After dinner I finished the night off with more cake and some reflection on what a successful 16th birthday it had been. Definitely not the one I dreamed of, but it was still pretty damn good! (HONOUR MITCHELL)
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Published 5 November 2021