BIRTHDAY LOOK
What’s it with the special look on birthdays? People dress and look their best on birthdays and one wonders what then happens to the other days. Countless times I have been inundated with gossip stares and jest making on peoples’ birthdays as we are all made to notice someone’s special day in the different environments we have found ourselves in at one point or the other.
Everybody with his or her reason(s) but some are quick to wax philosophical and spiritual when asked that question. Could there actually be an undertone to this that people do either consciously or unconsciously? The bottom line is that we all need to appreciate and spare a thought for ourselves every blessed day as that will make the world a better place for all.
I vividly remember the grandson of a popular apala musician of the sixties and seventies who was a colleague at work sometime last year who by omission or commission, the entire office forgot that particular day was his birthday. Though explainable, it was the ember months and the pressure of work coupled with being vigilant without distractions to ward off all the fraudsters who usually wait for that time of the year to launch their fraudulent attacks. No one noticed he wore a new suit, shirt and shoes on this day as he strolled around the office endlessly courting attention and just generally joking around but I guess he got tired and just returned to his normal self and was probably downcast that despite his perambulation, NOTHING indicated it was his birthday.
Our dear colleague got angry, went back to his seat and sent a stinker of a mail to the whole department explaining the reason for his look and how disappointed he was that no one noticed his look on his special day, I can imagine how painful it would have felt. The whole office felt bad too and swung into action disregarding all the harsh words he had used in referring to us in his mail and put one or two things in place to make his day a memorable one eventually. He got into the groove too and really enjoyed himself forgetting how low he had sank in his mail to us earlier in the day and forgot to apologise for his rudeness. The next day, he had his query waiting for him in his mail box to explain why “disciplinary action” should not be taken against him because of the rude manner he had addressed both his contemporaries and superiors in his mail the previous day But of course, we all pleaded on his behalf after he later apologised.
Birthdays are indeed special days but would there be any difference if we remained our usual selves as adults? Think about it.
