fav birthday memory--when i turned 50 and my Seattle friends (all Mariners fans) took me out for Chinese food and gifted me with a NY Yankees jersey with my full name and a big number 50 on the back
That was almost 18 years ago, and I still wear it any time i go to see the Yankees play
Hello! I am Beth, Jen's cousin. We are both Minnesota transplants in the PNW.
My favorite birthday memory is from last year. I was with some friends, along with my kids and their families on the North Shore of Minnesota. The place we were staying at had a "shot ski". This is a ski with four shot glasses attached to it. We didn't have any hard liquor so we had beer in the shot glasses. Four of us lined up with ski in hand, and me, having never done a shot before, and with a glass or two of wine already in my system, kept freaking out when it was time for the ski to tip. I have a video of the event and it always brings me joy and laughter. My first shot (of beer) at 59 years old.
I love all of this, Jen! Next week is my Substack one-year anniversary too. So glad we have connected here! I’m Julie in North Carolina, and a birthday memory that stands out, perhaps because my daughter is in London right now, is my 21st birthday, celebrated during my Study Abroad semester in Bath, England. Despite not being a big drinker then or now, I somehow ended up standing on a table in the local pub, chugging something. Then I called my parents from the red phone box on the corner. I hope they remember as little of it as I do. I also hope my daughter is making better choices..... An even better birthday was my 10-year-old party at Putt Putt mini golf, where they put my name on the sign out front.
Nicole Steinbok - from Duncan, BC home is now Sammamish, WA. I am a Mom, an Improv lead/instructor/coach, a Mariners fan and the inventor of the 22 Minute Meeting while I was at Microsoft for 18 years. I am now retired. I met Jen through Ignite Seattle, love the event, stay for the amazing people like Jen.
My favorite bday memory is this year - my husband threw me a surprise birthday brunch with 6 amazing friends. It took me a long while to feel like I have a strong set of friends but it was a reminder I have that now and what better thing can you do on your birthday than hang out with some of them.
Jen- such great photos of you through the years! And I thought I moved fast by proposing to my wife at 5 months and married at 15 months! We were downright pokey, comparatively.
I'm Steve, in Oakland, CA. Jeez. Birthday memory....I'm one of those grumpy anti-birthday people so I'll have to go back to when I was a kid. I sort of remember a fun day of mini-golf and bumper cars with friends when I was maybe 10. Here's the thing. My birthday is Dec. 19, so it almost always was raining, school was on holiday break, and I often had to combine my birthday party with a holiday party. Being Jewish, it often coincided with Hanukkah and when I'd get presents, it'd be: "this is for your birthday AND Hanukkah." I'll probably write up a depressing earworm post in about 3 months where you can read about some truly f'ed up birthday stories, but with my patented dark humor!
Aw, that’s a rough birthday as a kid. I have a couple friends whose birthdays are right around Christmas who experienced the same kind of dual gift giving as a kid.
Happy birthday for next week, Jen - and here's to celebrating all of those milestones. What a great post!
You made me laugh with this: "I have *always* been a 50 year old woman on the inside." Me too! And birthday parties have always felt like my worst nightmare - as a tiny child, often at my own parties, and ALWAYS at friends' parties - I would be found NOT playing pass-the-parcel or musical chairs with the other children, but in the kitchen with the mums, sitting quietly in the corner and wishing I had a book to read.
I've always been like it. I'm still like that now. And I'm 49. 🤣
Hello from Madison, WI! I made the opposite move Jen made, moving from Oregon to America's Dairyland. I love seaplanes, but learned the hard way that mosquitoes here are urban dwellers. It also took about 2 years for the novelty of basements and A/C in every home to wear off.
My favorite birthday memory? Good question. If pressed, I'd say my 30th; it was the end of an era- literally, metaphorically, etc. In a few short months, we'd move 1800 miles, and have a newborn. But that night was an evening with all of my friends at our favorite bar. The drinks flowed, and so did the conversations. Even now typing this, it's making me smile.
P.S. My anniversary is the 21st night of September, so you can imagine what was played at our reception.
Ana - residing in London, England; originally from Riga, Latvia. Formerly a theatre stage manager and singer in a band but currently embracing the “just a mom” thing.
I met Jen through Writers Office Hours here on Substack!
My favourite birthday memory is when I turned 12 and nobody came. Even my own sister was busy. I played mini golf with my mom. I was such a little weirdo omg. Havent made a birthday plan since 😂
Hi, I’m Tom Pendergast. How did I get here? I don’t remember, but I immediately dug the personal quality of Jen’s voice, and then got gobsmacked by her loving support of Bryan. I’ve lost a couple people in my life to cancer (dad, step-dad, father-in-law) and I’ve also reclaimed one (my mentor, Bill Mester, who kicked cancer with the help of the very Fred Hutch people Bryan is working with) and just have deep sympathy for those going through the blasted cancer journey. I don’t believe in prayers but I believe in the power of love and I’m here to add my little bit. Anyway, I’m a retired cybersecurity executive who’s always enjoyed writing, so I do here on my own Substack. I live in Snohomish, Washington, garden and bake and hike and bike and just generally try to live life to the fullest. Were there other questions I was supposed to answer? I can’t remember.
Exactly one year ago today, I moved from Tokyo to Southern California. I lived in Japan for six years. My birthday is right in the middle of summer, and it's always hot. So, for most of my birthdays in Japan, we'd escape the Tokyo heat and spend it at the beach. One year, it rained all day, every day for 3 months straight. It miraculously stopped on my birthday, and we were able to go to the beach.
There's an island near the beach with ancient caves, a temple, a lighthouse, and lots of touristy little shops. I bought an umbrella that changes color when it gets wet, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. I said to my husband, "I bet if I buy this umbrella, it won't rain again for the rest of the summer." So, I bought it to stop the rain, and I was right.
Nancyjean--currently living in Houston, TX
fav birthday memory--when i turned 50 and my Seattle friends (all Mariners fans) took me out for Chinese food and gifted me with a NY Yankees jersey with my full name and a big number 50 on the back
That was almost 18 years ago, and I still wear it any time i go to see the Yankees play
What a lovely gift!
ALL of my Seattle peeps were pretty awesome, especially those living in Zughaus
Hello! I am Beth, Jen's cousin. We are both Minnesota transplants in the PNW.
My favorite birthday memory is from last year. I was with some friends, along with my kids and their families on the North Shore of Minnesota. The place we were staying at had a "shot ski". This is a ski with four shot glasses attached to it. We didn't have any hard liquor so we had beer in the shot glasses. Four of us lined up with ski in hand, and me, having never done a shot before, and with a glass or two of wine already in my system, kept freaking out when it was time for the ski to tip. I have a video of the event and it always brings me joy and laughter. My first shot (of beer) at 59 years old.
Hello cousin! This sounds so fun! I can hear the laughing. 😂
I love all of this, Jen! Next week is my Substack one-year anniversary too. So glad we have connected here! I’m Julie in North Carolina, and a birthday memory that stands out, perhaps because my daughter is in London right now, is my 21st birthday, celebrated during my Study Abroad semester in Bath, England. Despite not being a big drinker then or now, I somehow ended up standing on a table in the local pub, chugging something. Then I called my parents from the red phone box on the corner. I hope they remember as little of it as I do. I also hope my daughter is making better choices..... An even better birthday was my 10-year-old party at Putt Putt mini golf, where they put my name on the sign out front.
Happy ‘stackiversary! I’m so glad we met! Getting your name on a sign when you’re a kid feels like a big deal!
Nicole Steinbok - from Duncan, BC home is now Sammamish, WA. I am a Mom, an Improv lead/instructor/coach, a Mariners fan and the inventor of the 22 Minute Meeting while I was at Microsoft for 18 years. I am now retired. I met Jen through Ignite Seattle, love the event, stay for the amazing people like Jen.
My favorite bday memory is this year - my husband threw me a surprise birthday brunch with 6 amazing friends. It took me a long while to feel like I have a strong set of friends but it was a reminder I have that now and what better thing can you do on your birthday than hang out with some of them.
Deep friendships are such a gift! Glad you found your people.
I’m so glad we met - I get inspired about something every time we talk.
Martha reading from Italy and riding my bike on my birthday because it’s a feeling of being self sufficient, free and fun no matter the pace!
Wind in the hair!
Jen- such great photos of you through the years! And I thought I moved fast by proposing to my wife at 5 months and married at 15 months! We were downright pokey, comparatively.
I'm Steve, in Oakland, CA. Jeez. Birthday memory....I'm one of those grumpy anti-birthday people so I'll have to go back to when I was a kid. I sort of remember a fun day of mini-golf and bumper cars with friends when I was maybe 10. Here's the thing. My birthday is Dec. 19, so it almost always was raining, school was on holiday break, and I often had to combine my birthday party with a holiday party. Being Jewish, it often coincided with Hanukkah and when I'd get presents, it'd be: "this is for your birthday AND Hanukkah." I'll probably write up a depressing earworm post in about 3 months where you can read about some truly f'ed up birthday stories, but with my patented dark humor!
Aw, that’s a rough birthday as a kid. I have a couple friends whose birthdays are right around Christmas who experienced the same kind of dual gift giving as a kid.
Happy birthday for next week, Jen - and here's to celebrating all of those milestones. What a great post!
You made me laugh with this: "I have *always* been a 50 year old woman on the inside." Me too! And birthday parties have always felt like my worst nightmare - as a tiny child, often at my own parties, and ALWAYS at friends' parties - I would be found NOT playing pass-the-parcel or musical chairs with the other children, but in the kitchen with the mums, sitting quietly in the corner and wishing I had a book to read.
I've always been like it. I'm still like that now. And I'm 49. 🤣
I sensed this about you, so I’m not surprised! Should we ever meet in person, we can be “doing things alone, together” friends. 😍
🤣 Jen! We're kindred spirits!
And I can't do the maths - I'm NOT 49 yet at all - I'd been getting ahead of myself! Proudly 48 for a little while yet! 😁
Hello from Madison, WI! I made the opposite move Jen made, moving from Oregon to America's Dairyland. I love seaplanes, but learned the hard way that mosquitoes here are urban dwellers. It also took about 2 years for the novelty of basements and A/C in every home to wear off.
My favorite birthday memory? Good question. If pressed, I'd say my 30th; it was the end of an era- literally, metaphorically, etc. In a few short months, we'd move 1800 miles, and have a newborn. But that night was an evening with all of my friends at our favorite bar. The drinks flowed, and so did the conversations. Even now typing this, it's making me smile.
P.S. My anniversary is the 21st night of September, so you can imagine what was played at our reception.
Fun! Every year I meet new people with a birthday or an anniversary on the 21st. You’re the second new one I’ve met this year!
Your 30th sounds lovely. That’s my kind of gathering as well. Good friends, good libations.
Wow I’m so late but oh well.
Ana - residing in London, England; originally from Riga, Latvia. Formerly a theatre stage manager and singer in a band but currently embracing the “just a mom” thing.
I met Jen through Writers Office Hours here on Substack!
My favourite birthday memory is when I turned 12 and nobody came. Even my own sister was busy. I played mini golf with my mom. I was such a little weirdo omg. Havent made a birthday plan since 😂
In the words of Pete Hornberger, “You’re never too late for now!” 😂
Hi, I’m Tom Pendergast. How did I get here? I don’t remember, but I immediately dug the personal quality of Jen’s voice, and then got gobsmacked by her loving support of Bryan. I’ve lost a couple people in my life to cancer (dad, step-dad, father-in-law) and I’ve also reclaimed one (my mentor, Bill Mester, who kicked cancer with the help of the very Fred Hutch people Bryan is working with) and just have deep sympathy for those going through the blasted cancer journey. I don’t believe in prayers but I believe in the power of love and I’m here to add my little bit. Anyway, I’m a retired cybersecurity executive who’s always enjoyed writing, so I do here on my own Substack. I live in Snohomish, Washington, garden and bake and hike and bike and just generally try to live life to the fullest. Were there other questions I was supposed to answer? I can’t remember.
Retired life sounds fabulous! Thanks for your kind words - I’m glad we met here on the ‘stacks.
I'm reading from Orange County, California.
Exactly one year ago today, I moved from Tokyo to Southern California. I lived in Japan for six years. My birthday is right in the middle of summer, and it's always hot. So, for most of my birthdays in Japan, we'd escape the Tokyo heat and spend it at the beach. One year, it rained all day, every day for 3 months straight. It miraculously stopped on my birthday, and we were able to go to the beach.
There's an island near the beach with ancient caves, a temple, a lighthouse, and lots of touristy little shops. I bought an umbrella that changes color when it gets wet, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. I said to my husband, "I bet if I buy this umbrella, it won't rain again for the rest of the summer." So, I bought it to stop the rain, and I was right.
My kids both have March birthdays, and I was always jealous of moms with summer birthday kids because of the beach/outdoor factor.