How do you make a big deal out of a big deal youre told not to make a big deal out of?

By Scout, on October 11th, 2007

Scout Opatut
Yes, I know, I’m sure my wording of that title is awful. But give me a break. I’ve been writing essays out the wazoo. I need to have a little improper grammar every now and again.

So Joan turned 50 this past week. The big FIVE OH. Somehow it doesn’t quite seem like a birthday week. In fact, I too had a birthday this past week. And while it was a great day, I still didn’t feel like it was time for another cake.

But this week should have been a big birthday week! The big FIVE OH and the big EIGHT TEEN. But for some reason we didn’t make such a huge deal about it.

I was told to make a big deal out of mine. “GO BUY PORN!” I heard about 100 times. I opted for Advil Cold and Sinus instead.

But it seemed that Joan was told not to make a big deal out of her’s. As if it was embarrassing. As if turning the big FIVE OH meant she was any more than simply one day older than she was the day before.

Joan herself told me, “eh, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.” So OKAY, I thought. I won’t. If she doesn’t want a parade, I wont throw her one.

I let the day go by with a mere two phone calls. I thought that’s what she wanted. It seemed like she was having a hard time grappling with the big FIVE OH. So I chose to follow the quintessential Joan approach of, “if you ignore it, it basically won’t exist anymore.”

I thought I could do it.

But I’m sorry, I can’t really ignore it. I can’t really ignore the big FIVE OH. I can’t really ignore all of the accomplishments made in the FIVE OH years, or the EIGHT TEEN of those I’ve been around for. I just can’t. And if that’s a little bit immature of an EIGHT TEEN year old, the to hell with it. I‘m 8 years old too.

I thought everyone should see the pictures I took of Joan at the Yankees game we all went to this past weekend. It was the game where they actually played exceptionally well. Joe Torre’s job was on the line, and they won. It was really emotional when they won. Everyone was really ecstatic. And cheering. Everyone felt proud. They all had huge smiles of their faces.

I like to imagine that this was the parade for Joan’s birthday. Maybe it wasn’t directed right at her, but this is how I secretly felt on her big FIVE OH day. I was really emotional. I was really ecstatic for her. I cheered for her. I was so proud. And even if I was over the phone, 400 miles away in Boston, and she couldn’t see, I had a huge smile on my face.

Joan at the Yankees game