Why do we celebrate our birthday? It’s always been rather baffling to me. With the traditional cake, ice cream and, of course, candles, and all the family sitting around with cameras ready to record the occasion. This regimen is repeated every year, so it is burned into our cycle of life.
As you might have guessed, this occasion did not always occur in my case. My birthday is on Aug. 23 and for many years fell during the height of the Missouri State Fair — so everyone was more interested in getting their tickets to a favorite show at the grandstand than celebrating my birthday.
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