Gemini Season 2024

It’s been Gemini Season for a whole week! Somehow, I missed it, in the day-to-day shuffle. Last year, I began celebrating my bday in little ways beginning with day one of Gemini Season. I guess I’ll have to make up for lost time!

I did treat myself to all those yummy groceries and teas and such, so that’s something, I suppose. But I’ll confess I got a bit down beginning to imagine what my birthday might be like if my daughter can’t make it up here for even a short vacation.

In my idealized fantasy birthday, kiddo and I go out for All You Can Eat Sushi, and I get some kind of fancy cake or cupcakes that look like mermaid food, and maybe some mermaid party favors (I found plenty on Amazon, along with a kit to mermaid-ify an existing cake… little shells and things you add to the frosting).

That’s what I want.

My mom offered to either go with me herself separately to the sushi place not for my actual birthday dinner, because she’s worried that even the simpler standard Japanese fare might trigger an esophageal attack in my dad. And he is not a sushi fan. So it would be Japanese stir-fry-adjacent meat and veggies for him.

Fair enough. But the thing is, she barely eats at this point. She’s older, and I can’t see her really enjoying All You Can Eat like someone younger with a bigger appetite (and a greater liking for sushi).

I want to enjoy myself. She tends to rush through restaurant meals, and rush me in the process, and sometimes subtly make me very self-conscious about finishing what’s on my plate.

Or else if I have even the smallest bit of leftovers, she’ll declare that I can save that for my next meal, even when it’s definitely not substantial enough for that. Because her standards of “enough” are very, very small.

So. My mom and All You Can Eat by ourselves doesn’t sound like a winning combination to me. And my only other regular in-person friend isn’t much of a sushi eater, I don’t think. What’s more, she’s also known to very tightly control her portions. Which is fine, I suppose. Again, though, I don’t think a pricey All You Can Eat dinner is up her alley.

I do have a former coworker I suppose I could invite, but I think she’d be working. I don’t know.

I got very angsty and very angry about the whole thing, just before heading home.

I’d come up with the alternative of making mostaccioli at the house and just not going out at ALL. She (my mom) seemed extremely disgruntled by that idea. Yes, she’s Type 2 diabetic, and pasta isn’t absolutely IDEAL. But there could be lots of meat with it, and we could make a garden salad. It could be like Italian restaurant dining at home.

I’m sure it sounds incredibly selfish, but I don’t want to have to please everyone else first on my birthday. I’m considering just celebrating by myself and doing whatever the f*** I want that day, if kiddo can’t make an appearance.

I get that my parents have health issues to consider, but we could do something together the day after, perhaps. In the past, they’ve gone so far as to make concrete restaurant or cooking arrangements for my birthday without even asking me what I wanted to do.

I don’t know. There’s a steakhouse that’s good, that’s safe for everyone. But again, sushi feels like mermaid food to me. Part of its appeal. And I just love it, any time of year. Really feelin’ the mermaid birthday vibes.

I don’t know what to do.

I realize I kind of complained a lot here, or at least it feels that way to me. I love my family. I do. I just want a day for me. If having it kinda how I want it means I spend it alone or possibly with one friend, well, I guess that’s just how it pans out.

But if I did the cake and decor, that I could save for the house, maybe for apres-sushi. (Look at me, remembering a smattering of French…all that Interview with the Vampire).

Maybe cake and ice cream could be the family part. That might be a workable compromise. Then dinner out together another time.

Hell, I ate at the sushi place alone once before, when a date stood me up. I could do it again! I wonder if they’re willing to seat you at the bar. I did see someone come in and do that, but I’m not sure if that’s drinks only, or if you’re also able to order food.

We will see.

Happy Gemini Season to all my fellow twins out there!!! Wish me luck making it magical!!!