Evolution of Birthday Gifts

In the recovery room, the newborn was placed in his mother’s arms – the cooing and angelic face helping to slowly ebb the pain from childbirth. Over the next hour, as the many visitors flowed in and out, the newest member of the family seemed to look around at everyone and smile. This was his birthday. Surrounded by family and loved ones, he knew somehow everything he would ever need in this life was right here in this room.

For his seventh birthday, he didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was a bike. When the special day finally arrived, attached to it was a red and white bike with training wheels. His birthday being in August, the little boy with black hair happily rode the bike most everyday until winter’s first snow arrived.

For his 12^th birthday, the pre-teen didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was a skateboard. When the special day finally arrived, attached to it was a black and red skateboard. The boy rode it up and down the driveway, made death-defying leaps from homemade ramps, and tried to jump curbs until a spill sent him home for bandaging. His birthday being in August, the boy continued having adventures with his skateboard until winter’s first snow arrived.

For his 17^th birthday the young man didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was to serve his country. When the special day finally arrived, attached to it were his Air Force enrollment papers. And after boot camp, he was sent off to help fight the Korean War.

For his 19^th birthday, the soldier didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was to survive his tour of duty so he might marry and have a family one day. When that special day finally arrived two years later, attached to it were his honorable discharge papers. 

For his 23^rd birthday, the young man didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was a car. When the special day finally arrived, attached to it was a green Ford sedan. He drove it to and from college where he eventually met a nice lady. They fell in love and were married. 

For his 26^th birthday, the man didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was a home in which to raise his growing family. When the special day finally arrived, they moved into a white clapboard house in Riverside, California. It was small, but it was big enough for their loving family of four.

For his 50^th birthday, the middle-aged man didn’t ask for much; all he wished for was to retire. When the special day arrived, after a lifetime of providing for his family and helping to send the children through the University of Virginia, he retired and started to play league softball with his friends.

For his 75^th birthday, the active elderly man didn’t ask for much; all he wished for were specially designed bats, gloves, and Under Armour clothing so he could keep playing the game that he so loved. When the special day arrived, he received his gifts and so much more – a surprise birthday party. The thoughtful gifts he used well into his eighties when he eventually had to hang his well-worn glove up on the wall. The cherished “Big Orange” bat he’d used for so many years he gifted to his son-in-law.            

For his 90th birthday, the little boy with the black hair from so long ago didn’t ask for anything. Instead, when the special day arrived, the oldest member of the family looked around the living room of the house he and his wife bought fifty-one years before and smiled. Surrounded by family and loved ones, he said, “I don’t need any more gifts. Everything I’ve ever wanted in life, everything I ever truly needed, is right here in this room.”