Every year I tell myself I’m not going to be alone or depressed on my birthday, and every year I’m wrong. Most years it’s my friends telling me that I should’ve told them earlier about it. Fair enough. But the years I do tell them earlier about it (say, a few weeks), it’s forgotten by the time it comes up, and I think it sounds kinda dorky to harp on people about things like that. Last year a friend picked me up from the airport on my birthday, and drove me home, and the only recognition I got at all (even from my family) was an email the next day from one friend who appologized for sleeping through the whole day and not getting in touch with me.
Is it stupid for me to want attention? A little recognition?
Now, I’ll admit that this past weekend was, well, kinda crappy for me, and I’m realizing I’ve had a lot of bad things happen over the past year, and I’m sorta focusing on them. But damnit, I just wanted to be happy on my birthday.
Too much to ask, isn’t it? 
Some of my friends can be like that, tell them too late and they’ll already have plans, too early and they’ll forget. What you need to do it to make plans early and then to remind them every week or so. They’ll get annoyed as hell, but they’ll turn up! lol
I had a year where everyone seemed to have forgotten my birthday. I was really upset until a few months later…when I forgot many of theirs.
If you want to be with friends on your birthday then make plans – real plans – with them, just like you’d make real plans any other time.
How good are you at remembering other people’s birthdays and celebrating them appropriately?
I sort of forgot my best friend’s birthday this weekend (on the 5th). I feel terrible, but we were busy all weekend and it sort of slipped my mind. We planned to go out next weekend, but I still should have called her. I suck.
I wish that everybody I knew forgot my birthday. I don’t feel comfortable with the attention over something I had no control. Let’s celebrate the first day I got laid or something.
Me talk pretty one day.
I’ve had a couple of surprise parties (I don’t particularly like them) and I must say I really prefer that people not make a big deal on my birthday. A note is nice, or an e-card, and hugs are good, but like Bruce_Daddy noted, it’s not like you did anything to be a year older.
My 50th is approaching. I’m already getting crap from my younger sibs and my younger spouse about this impending milestone. Whatever makes them happy, I guess. But it will be nice becoming eligible for whatever AARP membership will bring me. Gimme my damned discount!!
Happy Birthday, ArrrMatey 
And thanks for reminding me to call my best friend, who happens to have a birthday as well (Come to think about it, an ex-gf has got her birthday, but I am not going to call her. It has to suffice that I remembered it, heh.).
I am pretty darn good at remembering other birthdays, and, when my finances permit, helping to celebrate them. I think I’m just in a bad, bad funk at the moment. I was trying to think what would make it better, and I honestly can’t think of anything. Unlike some that have posted here, I -do- like having my birthday celebrated; I feel sort-of insignificant at other times, and having a nice expected ego boost once a year would be, well, fun. But it seems that all I tend to do is look back in disapointment over another year in which I made sure others got recognition, and I got none myself. Guess that’s why I’m posting here; I’d like people to know that I’m still around, and maybe still matter.
Big hugs to ArrrMatey! I know exactly how you feel, man. And of course you still matter–you’ll always matter. You might not feel like it, but you never know–there might have been even the slightest thing you’ve done that changed someone’s life.
And have I mentioned how great you look today?
ArrrMatey, I think I have an idea of how you feel. I had the fortune of sharing a birthday with Jesus Christ. Nothing sucks more than people having to bail on your birthday party because they have another one to go to.
Don’t let it get you down. Go out and buy yourself a really great birthday present. At least, that’s always cheered me up.
Darn… I wrote a long commiserating post and even designed a little ASCII present for you, but the ham§sters ate it.
Don’t worry, there will be better times in years to come. Just keep on inviting your friends, eventually those who are worth it will show up.
And I second Lord Ashtar’s suggestion of going out and treating yourself to something. Hey, you’ve earned it (by something or other)!!!
Congratulations anyway… I don’t know what time zone you’re in but right here it’s still your birthday.
: throws confetti :
: puts on party hat :