Happy Birthday!

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Today is my son’s birthday. This is a photo from a summer in Laguna Beach of my son, daughter and Angus, the best dog ever. We adopted Angus from Guide Dogs of the Desert after his hips were found to be “FAIR” and not “EXCELLENT.”

In honor of my son’s and Angus’s March 26 birthdays (RIP Angus), I’m posting a story I wrote that was published in the Los Angeles Times Kids’ Reading Room. It’s based on my son’s birthday in the second grade when he wanted to invite 50 kids to his birthday party.

A Birthday for the Dogs

“MOM, I’m inviting 50 kids to my party.”

“What, Robert?” Mom said. “That’s too many. Do you know 50 kids?”

I sat in the back seat while Mom drove home after school. My eighth birthday was in two weeks. 

“There’s my class, plus Cub Scouts, and playgroup.”

“I can’t afford to take 50 kids skating or bowling. And I don’t want 50 kids in my house. What about the city pool? It’s heated, open year-round, and it’s only 50¢ a kid,” Mom said.

“A swim party, that’s cool!” I said.

“I’ll say yes to the party, but no to presents. Fifty presents is too much for one 8-year-old. It’s decadent.”

“What’s decadent?” I asked. Mom used words I didn’t know.

“Self-indulgent, corrupt.”

I sat silently and thought I’d be sad with no presents. Then I remembered Angus. Mom got him for me as an early birthday present. We were on a waiting list for two years with Guide Dogs of the Desert. He was being trained as a companion dog for people who couldn’t see. We got him because he had poor hips and couldn’t be a working dog. Angus was big, yellow, and I loved him. We shared the same birthday.

“I have a great idea!”

“What?” Mom asked, glancing at me in her rearview mirror.

“I’ll ask for money for Guide Dogs of the Desert.”

“Ah?” Mom made a weird swalloing noise.

“It’s Angus’s birthday, too.”

In the rearview mirror I watched Mom dab at the corner of her eyes with a tissue, and nod her head in agreement.

Two weeks later, I had a great birthday. Fifty kids came with bathing suits, towels and money. Instead of opening presents after cake, we counted dollars they had stuffed into a large jar decorated with photos of Angus. 

Together, we raised more than $1,600 for Guide Dogs. Mom called me a “philanthropist” – whatever that is.

What special birthday memories do you have?

32 thoughts on “Happy Birthday!”

  1. This story is so beautiful and really -tears in my eyes too. Thank you for sharing with us. We all need to this kind of life stories. Happy Birthday for your Son and for all your family. Love, nia

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    • Thanks! Angus was a lovable goof. What a good way to describe him. I would often be missing the kitchen trash can, only to find it in the backyard behind a bush. He was full of antics like that.

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    • Thank you for coming over and reading it. My son has always been one special human being. Angus was not only good looking but a part of our family for close to 15 years. Our cat Sherman would get in cat fights and Angus would charge outside and protect him. Sherman was always safe. Angus collected our newspapers on the street in the mornings. But first, he’d take a tighty whitey of husband’s and leave it on the street to trade for the papers! So embarrassing for us, but a total Angus move.

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  8. This is the sweetest story ever. I love your son’s BIG heart and Angus sounds like he was a gem too. Happy birthday to Robert. How old is he now?
    I don’t have many birthday memories from when I was a kid; the one that clearly stands out is my 40th. I spent it in NYC with some of my dearest friends—it was all a surprise from my husband. Perhaps he was making up for all the non-memorable birthdays I’d had prior? 😂

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