Every year when my birthday rolls around, I start to get depressed. I would love to stay young forever and if I could just give up on birthdays for good, I certainly would. My husband does his part to try and cheer me up by throwing grand parties and giving me great gifts, but really what I want is the opposite.

For a long time, I did not get why he didn’t understand that I don’t want a big deal made over something that makes me so sad. I would always put on a happy face for him and pretend that everything was perfect, but inside, I hated the whole thing and I usually went to bed in tears.

This year, however, my birthday was perfect. He came home from work and gave me a pair of theatre tickets and told me to get dressed for a dinner out. We went out, just the two of us to a fancy dinner and to the theatre. He never once mentioned that it was my birthday and we had a great time. He finally got it!