The Golden Birthday

January 24, 2013 at 6:00 am · Filed under stories and tagged: Batman, birthday, Birthday Party, family, Golden Birthday

< by Nate >

Everyone loves their birthday, but one is supposed to stand out amongst the rest: The Golden Birthday.

Ah yes, the Golden Birthday. For no real reason, other than your new age coinciding with the day you were born on, it is considered the best.

For me, my Golden Birthday hit when I turned 4, and if not for a wondrous video camera, I would probably not even remember it.

Because it was rolling, I know this:

• My cake was not only cut into the shape of Batman, but the frosting exactly mirrored the blue, black and grey of his cowl, cape and bat suit. It even had the yellow utility belt!
• With only a little coaching, I successfully navigated the Birthday song.
• When the family sang, it was about 50/50 split between people calling me Nate and Nathan.
• Clothes in 1990 were very colorful, and women’s hairstyles were rather large.

However, the most important thing I learned that day was an early lesson in chemistry. I learned — thanks to having a father who worked at Provimi Veal — that dry ice, when mixed with water, creates fog.

After blowing out the candles, my father placed four large cups on the table, told me not to stick my hands in them, and then poured in water.

As soon as the smoke started to rise out of the cup, I bolted. There were a few chuckles and my mother saying, “Nathan, come here it is OK.”

Slowly but surely, I crept back into the frame, and proceeded to have the time of my life. With several 10-gallon buckets around the dining room, the entire floor was covered in fog in a few minutes.

It truly was a one-of-a-kind Golden Birthday.

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