Memory Box 5: Age is all in the mind

My mother and the Nik share their birthday. It's today. The 12th of March. Each year from the year the Nik was born my father would tell us how he (Nik) could be tied with ribbon and given to mum every year as a new gift. Bigger and better (?). Free and cute (? haha!). Of course dad never got away with it and always had to shell out for gifts. Worth a try though I reckon.

My mum believes, unwaveringly, that age is all in the mind. It's a quality that I did not inherit. I feel every day of my 34 years with great grouchiness whereas my mother still feels 18 with great joie de vivre. This joy of life and youthfulness of mind has held her in good stead and it's what made so many of my friends and peers be friends with her independent of me. Something that pissed me off when I was a teenager looking for something to get angst-y about but which fills me with pride and smiles all the time now.

When the Nik turned 4 he had a big birthday party. Delicious home made cake (no one makes a devils food cake quite like her) and a multitude of snacks from my mother, the Nigella Lawson of India. All of Nik's pals arrived bearing gifts at around 4pm and after party games it was time to cut the cake and eat some food.

After cutting the cake Nik was sitting on the stairs next to his pal, let's call him Al, and this is the conversation they had:
Nik (chomping on cake): Today is my mums birthday too.
Al (also chomping on cake): Hmmm
Nik (very well coached): Ya, she is 18 today.
Al (not coached at all, clearly): My mum's birthday is on xxxx and she is going to be36.
Nik (not to be left behind): On her next birthday my mum will be 81.

Even at age 11 I found it hilarious.

Today the Nik is 28 and mum, well she is still 18. Happy birthday both!