Now we are Three...
...two. 32. I've always liked the number; when my father let us pick Super Lotto possibilities with him, "32" was a constant selection. It felt lucky. With every aging cell in my body, I hope it still is.
If my Father were still alive, he would be throwing his famous "Orthodox Christmas/Anna's Birthday/New Year's" extravaganza this Saturday. He always celebrated my day with such excitement and love. Every year, I got a frothy, brand new dress, just like the one above, usually from Macy's. When I was older, in the last few years before I lost him, I got jewelry, as well. He was building a trousseau I might never need; at 32, I know that the impossible is probable and I may never "settle down".
I can live without the dresses and the gold, but I can't truly celebrate my birthday without my Father. He wanted a daughter so badly and this was the day he got his wish, at the advanced age of 38; he never let anyone forget how grateful he was for it. I will forever remember how special he made me feel, every new year. In 2007, there may not be a party at our home with a 100+ guests, there will be no champagne toast...but there's a beautiful new bottle of Perrier-Jouet in my refrigerator and when it's popped at 11:46 tonight, I'll be toasting life, love and the much-adored man who marvelled through glass at a baby with very big eyes (21.5 inches, 8 lbs) who made her arrival 32 years ago, today. Thanks Mummy and Daddy, for letting me be.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Aditi | 2007.01.04 at 03:43 AM
Happy birthday, Anna :)
Posted by: toesoxluver | 2007.01.04 at 03:46 AM
Happy Birthday, A N N A! 32 treated me well, so I have great hopes for your 32nd year!
Posted by: brimful | 2007.01.04 at 06:23 AM
Happy Birthday! May it be a wonderful year :)
Posted by: andrea | 2007.01.04 at 07:38 AM
Happy Birthday Anna. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Digit | 2007.01.04 at 10:05 AM
Happy Birthday! I met you through Sriram once at Tryst, and remembered reading your posts a while back. I hope you have the best year yet!
Posted by: Bela | 2007.01.04 at 10:07 AM
happy birthday & happy new year anna!
Posted by: jay | 2007.01.04 at 10:47 AM
i hope this year is full of all things good for you!
Posted by: nina | 2007.01.04 at 10:58 AM
happy Birthday!
Posted by: chaitan | 2007.01.04 at 11:32 AM
That made me want to cry. Happy birthday, you beautiful girl, you.
Posted by: Roonie | 2007.01.04 at 12:15 PM
happy new years AND happy bday! i'm a jan bday like you so this time is exciting as well. all the best and enjoy your day!
Posted by: terence | 2007.01.04 at 01:38 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: ads | 2007.01.04 at 01:43 PM
From one January baby to another...happy birthday!
Posted by: rekha | 2007.01.04 at 01:55 PM
Happy Birthday Anna!
Posted by: Meghana | 2007.01.04 at 02:03 PM
Happy Birthday, Anna :)
Hope your year is full of deliciously memory-making experiences.
(And that is one seriously adorable pic.)
Posted by: maya | 2007.01.04 at 03:41 PM
Happy Birthday Anna!
Posted by: TMB | 2007.01.04 at 04:00 PM
I lurve that photo - so sweet. Happy Birthday.
Posted by: tamasha | 2007.01.04 at 05:33 PM
De-lurking to wish you a happy birthday and a fabulous year!
Posted by: IslandGirl | 2007.01.04 at 05:48 PM
What a beautiful post; it brought a tear to my eye. Happy birthday, A N N A. Wishing you much happiness and creativity this year.
Posted by: Pooja | 2007.01.04 at 07:04 PM
You rock.
Posted by: Sriram | 2007.01.04 at 09:19 PM
I hope 32 is your lucky year Anna.. Happy birthday again!
Posted by: Jiji | 2007.01.04 at 11:15 PM
You're a beautiful person. I know that this is your year! Continue being you.
Posted by: biju | 2007.01.04 at 11:27 PM
Awww, such a cute little girl! And still cute, 29(?) years later. :-) Happy birthday!!
Posted by: DTK | 2007.01.04 at 11:49 PM
Many wishes to you on this day!! And hope they all DO come true. Take care.
Posted by: Ak | 2007.01.05 at 02:25 AM
Happy birthday, friend, sister, colleague. xoxo SM
Posted by: siddhartha | 2007.01.05 at 10:16 AM
Happy Birthday Anna.
Posted by: Anonymous | 2007.01.05 at 11:31 AM
you're in my thoughts and prayers for all the wrong reasons.
Posted by: gigglinggonad | 2007.01.05 at 02:49 PM
Happy Birthday A N N A !
That photo demands to be included in the Desi Dad Project (even if it breaks TMB's stringent rules :) ).
Take care.
Posted by: ashvin | 2007.01.05 at 05:30 PM
Happy belated birthday ANNA. I know you will have a wonderful year ahead :-)
Posted by: Janeofalltrades | 2007.01.05 at 08:29 PM
Happy Birthday Anna! Hope the year ahead is full of smiles & cheer for you.
Posted by: RK | 2007.01.05 at 10:48 PM
Wow Anna, Happy Birthday. I was blessed with a baby girl on your birthday :-) We named her Kunju Mary. There is a photograph on my blog.
Posted by: Jacob | 2007.01.07 at 12:40 AM
I think I just discovered something from looking at your old pictures. Did you ever break your nose, sometime after you started college? No offense intended, you look fine but I was surprised to notice it. I could be wrong.
Posted by: Marco | 2007.01.08 at 06:26 PM
Yep, you're wrong. She's never broken anything, but her arm. Baby noses are just smaller. Also, there are almost no college pictures available online, so not sure how you've seen those, unless like me, you were there.
Posted by: Anon | 2007.01.08 at 06:33 PM
Aw, I always thought you had a cute nose. Its round at the end, just like a puppy's. Happy belated, by the way. I owe you a drink. Or ten.
Posted by: kompressor | 2007.01.08 at 07:26 PM
Happy Birthday and happy new year!!! The picture is darling :)
Posted by: Rupa | 2007.01.10 at 01:13 AM
happy birthday!
Posted by: absolutgcs | 2007.01.12 at 09:24 PM
what a wonderful post, anna. happy belated... =)
Posted by: Hilal | 2007.01.13 at 09:14 AM