I hate my birthday! It's not that I regret getting older. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I am inherently shy and don't like being the center of attention. Add to that the anticipation of the "big" day itself. Will people know it's my birthday? Will they make a big deal of it? All the stress usually leads to feeling "let down" or in the worst case scenario, a fight with my husband who, despite his best efforts, doesn't know how to help me get through the day.

But this year was different. My niece drove 60 miles through a snowstorm with her two children to celebrate with me. When they arrived we spent some quiet time talking and just enjoying being together. I watched as my10-year-old great niece and her 5-year-old brother sat at the computer and visited the TumbleBook Library (http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/) to view and interact with the animated talking picture books. Then we drove to nearby Erie, Pa., to watch the children laugh and dance and play at Chuck E. Cheese's. We did some shopping, ate dinner, and stopped by the bookstore. Then it was time for the ride home, through an early spring snowstorm of course.

The driving was tricky and at first we played several games of "1, 2, 3 Mum" to keep things quiet so my husband could concentrate on driving. Soon we needed a different diversion. The kids told stories and we played "The Favorites Game". I learned that my husband's favorite activity of the day was the stop at Chuck E. Cheese's. You could have knocked me over with a feather! This kind of game playing is what helps children become good readers and writers and it's too bad that families don't find more time to engage in storytelling and conversations with their children. Finally we arrived home safely to have cake and ice cream, take baths, play a game of Cootie, open gifts, and receive the best gift of all - hugs (the kind that permeate your entire body and soul that only kids can give) before saying good night.

The final pleasures of the weekend birthday celebration included a call from my son and daughter-in-law, a visit from my best friend, and exploring a website with my great niece (http://www.millsberry.com/index.phtml). She confided in me that she was only allowed to visit educational sites at school and this was not considered educational. I beg to differ! After she left, I signed up and found that the site provided me with many educational opportunities. I had to make several decisions such as, choosing and naming my character, selecting (and buying) my house, street name, and community, choosing clothes to wear, and deciding which games to play so I could earn money to go shopping. But I digress.

The surprise is, I loved my birthday!