SubMas Day 6.
#June.
On the sixth day of SubMas my true love gave to me; The Best Birthday Ever.
Today’s SubMas is fully dedicated to the events that occurred before, during and after my birthday seeing as those were the major highlights of my June.
Get your popcorns ready, cause it's about to be a ride.
So, about three weeks leading up to my big day, my bible study group and I were just rounding up a study session when this very wild idea came to my mind.
You see, I’m a fan of sitting outdoors in a placid and aesthetically pleasant environment, most times during the cool of the evening. I’ll then either read a novel or just spend quality time by myself or with people I love. The idea that came to me was that of us having such a get together as a way of commemorating my birthday.
The initial plans I had for my day was to stay indoors and spend time with myself and God. So, when the picnic idea came up, the proposed time was to be on Sunday evening so that my day, which was to be on Monday would then go as I desired it to.
Excitedly, I had shared the idea with them. At first I was a bit skeptical on how they would receive it since some contributions would be needed and the idea was kind of impromptu. But to my surprise, they were all in. I was really glad for that.
And so, I got to work. I trustingly drew up a budget, and wrote down the itinerary for the day. I also made some inquiries ok the best location to be used.
As the day drew near, my excitement heightened. This was going to be the first time in a really long while that I was genuinely excited over the prospect of my birthday. Other years were a struggle.
As time went on, I kept updating my friends on the plans, although I was a bit shy about sharing. The act of bringing myself to the spotlight is not exactly my forte and I was just awkward about it. We moved regardless.
The week before my birthday, I unfortunately came down with the worst illness I’ve had this year.
Like from where to where?
I was weak, I was burning internally and externally. My head and body were on fire. During one of those hard nights, I can remember micturating nothing less than ten times. My whole body system was shutting down and the accompanying tears were hot and ugly.
That night, I was not so patiently waiting for the day to break so maybe I would feel better. And as a result of the illness, the planning came to a halt and my excitement dwindled. I was also unable to make my hair as I had planned to. All that was at the forefront of my mind was that i just wanted to feel like myself again.
I forgot to mention that I was also preparing for an exam around this time, so really, the illness came at the worst of times.
A few days later, I was finally getting myself back. But time was against me. I just had a day to finalize my plans and get myself put together.
The Friday of that weekend, I had spontaneously asked my colleague if she could help gel my hair since I had seen her a week before with her hair gelled up and when I asked who did it, she had said she was the one.
You all, she had said yes. And even more mind-blowing is that she had done it for free. Even wilder than that is the fact that she so happened to be a makeup artist who knew how to carve brows, and my friend Kome so happened to have an unused razor I could use to carve my brows that Saturday morning.
Talk about Providence. My Daddy had seen my need before time and had made provision available.
That evening, my unit in church was having my Sets’ sent forth. During the get together, I saw a picnic tray that looked like what I was going to purchase. When I asked the owner if I could use it, she happily said yes and I was over the moon with gratitude.
Eventually, the day of the picnic finally came around. For service that morning, I had worn a pretty gown with my new hairdo, and I felt so good. Service ended and I immediately went to the mall to purchase the remaining items on my list.
I wasn’t able to purchase more cause of my limited budget and at that point, coupled with the sweatiness from the scorching sun and my convalescent state, I just wanted to go there, have a good time and then return back to my room. I think my social battery was already on overdrive that afternoon. It wasn’t even my birthday yet and I had replied numerous pre-birthday wishes in church.
As I walked back to my room under the hot sun after leaving the mall, I kept asking God to help cool the weather, cause a hot sun in my mind had translated to less attendance and I was already having this subtle fear that people won’t show up due to the after-church tiredness.
I got back to my room, changed up and took a quick shower. While I was in there, the weather changed drastically and a somewhat heavy rain replaced the hot sun. At this point, I just laughed from being overwhelmed and went to sleep. If I had done otherwise, then I would have stayed up thinking about how the rain in lieu of the sun was going to keep them from coming.
About an hour to the stipulated time for the picnic, my dear friend Priscilla came to wake me and we got ready to go. On our way there, I was just giving my fears a voice. I told her of how the snacks I got weren’t enough, how I felt like people won’t show up and also how I felt like the get together was going to be mid.
Oh, by the way, the rain had stopped and it had actually cooled the environment. I was really grateful for that, but my worries were overshadowing my gratitude.
On getting to the area close to the spot I had decided for us to use, I noticed a blanket already arranged in a picnic fashion. My worry heightened. I then turned to Priscilla and was like; “oh my God, where would we stay, there are already people there’’.
She was about to give me a reply me when I started hearing shouts and screams from the picnic direction. I turned sharply and the sight before me left my mouth open in utter shock.
Running towards us were my friends, even those that weren’t a part of The Forge, and they were screaming “Happy Birthday’’.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (this is me internally screaming cause as I’m writing this I’m actually reliving that whole day and I’m just so happy and blessed to have these awesome people in my life).
I was indeed surprised, liked shocked to my bones. Prior to this experience, I have always believed that someone can’t be so oblivious that they are fully unaware of a surprise being planned under their nose. I used to pride myself in being able to read people’s body language and decode the things not said.
But right there in that moment, I was humbled.
My tear glands did fail me, cause I was so emotional inside but no tear was coming forth, instead, the ecstatic feeling kept my wide smile in place till the end.
My heart was brimming with joy. I felt like the main character in well written novel. I was also so shy and awkward, and I kept hiding my face behind my hands whenever the camera was turned my way.
I didn’t know how well to receive the massive show of love and I felt like my thank you wasn’t doing justice to how grateful I was towards these amazing people. As I said, my tear glands had failed me and so I just kept praying for them and thanking them as much as I could.
That was indeed a very beautiful day and after having the best fun, I ended the day by going on a walk with my Lover in the cool of the evening.
A very happy birthday girl;
A very shy birthday girl;
When my D-day did arrive, I actually got to stay in and spend time with me and my Lover, just as I had desired. The rain that had fallen the day before fell harder on my day making everywhere cool and cozy.
During that weekend, my roommate wasn’t around which gave me the privacy I needed to be by myself. As God would have it, there was a public holiday that day so I didn’t have to leave my room for class. I locked myself in and basked in my presence whilst doing the not so little things that gives me joy (obviously, a novel was in the mix).
God actually planned my day to perfection.
My room was clean, the pink glow from the shower cap covering the side bulb gave the room a very homey feel, which was just how I wanted it to be. My mind was clear as I documented my feelings in my journal. The tears that were held back the day before came on fully and I allowed them flow.
Once I was satisfied with my day, I eventually opened up my door and went for my study group meeting. There too, I was pleasantly surprised.
Later that evening, Davida and Dami surprised Kome and I, the June celebrants with a nice get together. We talked, we laughed and then exchanged gifts. My heart was just overflowing with gratitude.
My 21-year birthday was way beyond my expectations and I bless God daily for the amazing people I get to do this life with.
Shout out to; My Sisters, The Forge, My Fire Women, Global Stuff Movers, Hospital Baddies and every other person that had made my day a blast.
I know I deserve all the love in this world and God has given you people to me as a reminder of this.
A funny thing I had done was to formulate a birthday song for myself which I do plan on singing every year. I’m the main character in my own fairytale, so why not right?.
The lyrics are below.
I got inspired from my love for Sound of Music;
“I am 20 going on 21, I know that I have grown.
So much I’ve learnt and so much to still learn, but darling I know I’m good.
I don’t need someone to make me old and wiser, I’ve got my God to do that.
I am 20 going on 21, God will take care of me’’.
I love God, I love Me and I deeply love my Friends.
Thank you so much for reliving this day with me, I pray that you too will be surrounded with people that won’t hold back in showing you how much you mean to them.
Merry almost Christmas people.
#Shalom.
Signed: Abba’s Handpiece.