Birthdays are complicated for me. As a kid, I always hoped for a big celebration, but it wasn't in the cards. It's funny that now that I'm an adult, I don't always love attention. I somehow ended up with friends who make the biggest impression on every birthday. I've started to dread the day, which now includes a last-minute plan, and my friends who take it to the next level to make it fun. 

This year was a little different. Together in Japan, after 6 months of not seeing each other, 10 days before my birthday, they surprised me with a birthday celebration in the most incredible little izakaya. 

We show up for our reservation, take our shoes off, and arrive at the last meal we'll all have together for a while. The waitress is excited, running around, yelling orders to an even more lively kitchen and bar. The food was so good that we spent most of the meal talking about how we thought this is the best chicken thigh skewers in the world. 

A few beers in, and with a few pieces left on the plate, the lights start flashing. I'm excited, thinking this is entertainment that they give every night. At some point in the dance, light, and music show, they ask where the people are, and a slice of cheesecake is placed in front of me. 

It took me 10 minutes, but I started to piece together that they were celebrating my birthday. I feel special, cared for, and a little self-conscious. I immediately turn to Cody and ask if I should blow out the candles. He says, go for it, I blow out the candles, and a few minutes later, I realize it was a big mistake. 

As if watching the music, dancing, and pageantry weren't enough, we hear the hostess start a heartfelt speech. It has been a while since I've brushed up on my Japanese (i.e., never), so I'm just staring at the wall. The fantastic part is more than the words; I can sense the tone of what she's saying. There's laughter, crying, and even a serious moment. Everyone stops talking and somberly stares at her. Karin later told me that she went into a monologue about how special birthdays are, how thankful we should be for all the family we have, and how we should appreciate the people we're celebrating with today. There was even a banner that said something along the lines of "Thank you for being born." This has to be the best a restaurant can make you feel for a birthday (and probably the only time I will be caught this far off guard).

I'm sitting in front of my cake, not understanding the birthday message for me (and another person) with a cake that's half eaten. Suddenly, a countdown; I realize I am supposed to have a cafe with total candles in front of me.

It's not as dramatic as I'm making it out to be - they relight the candles; I close my eyes and take a second.

My only wish was to continue to have these amazing people in my life to make me feel welcome, cared for, and memorable. and to
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