Birthday Goodies by Pat Simmons

Birthday celebrations have changed over the years. I believe they should be memorable. Such as, when my daughter turned twenty-one years-old, I had twenty-one of her friends—young and older—from across the country call at designated times to wish her happy birthday. She was clueless until at first until friends ended the call with, “I’m number 7, or number 8…and on. It was a hoot. Here I am on Facebook going live. 

One of my favorite things to do is to call people on their birthdays and serenade them with every rendition of the birthday song in whatever key my voice finds—loud, soft, off key—mind you it wouldn’t be memorable without that call from me. In turn, I got a couple of those off key calls myself from early morning to late at night and I song along with them. 

Surprise parties are cool, but last year, I thought outside the box. When I turned the big 60, I didn’t want an elaborate party. Instead I asked sixty of my closest friends to enjoy dinner with me, not on me. My guest list  included my first friend from kindergarten to my newest friend from the previous year. All my siblings and their children were there. It was one of my best birthdays, because those who attended represented the good memories in my life.

Fast forward to this year, it was ALL about the freebies I could get. Since most people were off work on Monday, they contributed the day off to President’s Day. I corrected them that the national holiday was in my honor—Pat Simmons’ Birthday. They played along.

So I was on the hunt to find out how many perks I could get in honor of Pat Simmons’ Birthday.  Ultra Beauty emailed a coupon for a free mascara as a birthday gift. Right on time too. The local fabric store had a Pat Simmons Birthday sale—got tons of bargains. I’ve already warmed up my sewing machine. From this pile, I have enough fabric for two blouses, two skirts, one dress and one long top. 

DSW sent me a birthday coupon for $5 off shoes. You know I’m using that one! I ended the night with another freebie, a free meal at Tucanos Brazilian Grille. 

Others were there celebrating their birthdays, too, so I tweaked the holiday to National Birthday in our honor.

Lastly, the birthday wishes on Facebook from family and friends were overwhelming and countless. Thanks everyone! Yes, 2020 was memorable, because the best part—I’m healthy, not wealthy, but God has supplied all my needs.

Another birthday is my newest release, LEAN ONE ME, is featured as the "Together We Read"  National Book Club selection. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

What’s the best part of your birthday? Do you go after all the cool stuff you can get? 

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Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author with more than thirty-five titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a three-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.