A few years ago, I made my Aunt a 60th birthday cake and thought it would be inventive to write historic things on the cake that happened on the day she was born.  It was a big hit at the party, and we all gained a bit of knowledge in the process.

I thought I would make history repeat itself and take you on a journey through time (without the cake, sorry).  I picked this particular day as a fun way to celebrate my best friend’s birthday on this February 4th, 2014. Since she is a lover of history, I thought this message would have more of an impact.  

Happy birthday Sami Jones!!!

 On this day in history – February 4th

2004 – Mark Zuckerberg, after spending countless hours creating algorithms, invents “the” Facebook and eventually becomes a billionaire.  Happy 10th anniversary Facebook.

1997 – A civil jury panel in Santa Monica, CA had determined that O.J. Simpson was guilty of the death of his wife and Ronald Goldman, although he had been acquitted in 1995.

1959 – The first day of the invention of the Barbie Doll.  Barbie was created by Ruth Handler and was named after her daughter.  Ken would follow years later and was named after Ruth’s son. (does that seem a little incestuous to anyone else?)

1938 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released.  This legendary cartoon grossed more money than any other motion picture to that point.

1932 – The first Winter Olympic games were held in Lake Placid, New York

Several historical figures also share this birthday – Johann Bach (1677), Charles Lindbergh (1902), Byron Nelson (1912), Rosa Parks (1913), Dan Quayle (1944), Alice Cooper (1948), Natalie Imbruglia (1975)

The most significant event on this day in history, as it relates to me, was the birth of my friend Sami.  True friends are not easy to find but, somewhere in the chaos of our lives, we formed a friendship and we have never looked back.  Birthdays should be celebrated for what they represent, not for the number of years that person has been on this planet. We celebrate the moment they came to be and the significance they have in our lives.  When you bestow your happy wishes on that person on the anniversary of their birth, truly embrace the meaning of what you are saying to them…..I celebrate the day you joined this life.

You can verbalize that message in a more creative way by celebrating the number of times the Earth has revolved around the sun since they have been on this planet.  You can celebrate the number of minutes or seconds they have shared their presence but the message should always come from your heart.

Happy birthday Ms. Jones!!  And may you have many, many more!!  Today, I celebrate you.