Birthday Traditions

Dan wakes me up from my nap. It's about 11:55p on Wednesday night and it's cold, but I'm feeling excited.
He says to me with a smile, "It's time."

I get up from bed and we quietly go downstairs, pull out the ice cream cake (half vanilla and half chocolate) from the freezer, then we quickly insert the polka-dotted candles on colorful birthday cake.


Earlier that day, the first thing I saw on facebook webpage sidebar was, "Birthdays- Tomorrow: Evan Yeh." And I immediately take a few seconds and send an email to Lovella and Dan.
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SUBJECT: It's Evan's Birthday tomorrow

Can we sing happy birthday at midnight tonight??

I'll be home =D
Tell Yi and Raj cuz I don't have their email.
AND

I'll buy a small cake.

Thanks. Have a great day!

~Aurena
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Dan replies back:

You totally read my mind.

143,
D

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(I'm totally in love with my love. His response made me smile and warm inside.)

So we round up the roomies, Rajan and Lovella in the master bedroom, Yi comes home (right on time) and we gather around the top of the stairs. We watch Dan light each polka dot candle with the mini lighter.

I turn to Rajan and ask, "Is it time?"
He nodds his head, smiling.
I stand there excited and thinking about how amazing my mom is for creating this tradition to surprise each one of us on our birthdays with a bright light of candles on our favorite cake. And I'm also happy and nervous because I don't know how it's going to turn out.

The cake is lit and bright with each roommate- some smiling, some excited, some happy and or anxious- as we walk down the hall to his room.

I knock on his bedroom door.
He opens the door and we start walking slowly into his room with the lit up cake as orange as the sun setting in the west as we sing happily,
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to Evan,
Happy Birthday to you!"

Evan closes his eyes and makes a wish.
He blows his candles and says, "Wow, what a surprise. Thank you."

(In that brief moment, I am fulfilled.)


We go back downstairs and head to the kitchen. We watch Evan cut the hard ice cream cake in half and then into pieces. I can't wait to try it, so as soon as I get my piece, I start eating without even waiting for Dan (we usually share). So, he gets his own piece.

It's so delicious! It's a perfect sweetness with a great combination of chocolate and vanilla icecream with crunchy chocolate balls in between the layers and whipped frosting. I look at my roommates chatting as I finish the last piece of icecream cake with a feeling of peacefulness and being fulfilled.



I am proud of the family I have in San Diego. I am thankful to have roommates who honor and respect each other, who are willing to partake on surprise get togethers, who find joy and connectedness sharing dinners that we prepare, and who enjoy the simple pleasures of life.


Thank you Mom for doing an amazing job as a parent.
Thank you Dan for being my life long partner and unconditional love.
Thank you Lovella for being someone who I look up to and someone who I consider my life long friend, who gives and loves people unconditionally.
Thank you Evan for always being open to share your life stories and treasuring your friendships.
Thank you Rajan for bringing peace and sharing your experiences as well.
Thank you Yi for always being generous and sharing your home-cooked meals, keeping the house so clean and bringing us together.

I love you all for being a huge part of my life.