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Birthday Plans, I want to try something new this year
I have never celebrated my birthday with more than one friend before. This year, I started telling my friends my plans early since my birthday is in June. My birthday is on a weekday. I planned to do dinner on my birthday on a rooftop. But, sister said she can’t come because she’s going on a trip. My other friend has to work that evening of my birthday. One friend said she could come depending if she in labor. A coworker of mines said she would be open. My out of town friend hasn’t gave me a defiant yes but she seems open. I wanted to make reservations in April but right now, I’m not confident if anyone will come. I will feel embarrassed if I make a reservation for 4 and only one or two show up. I want to celebrate my birthday but by it being on a weekday I’m afraid people won’t come. What do I do?
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Just because you have never celebrated your Birthday in the past with more than one doesn't mean that now, during a pandemic, it is okay to fulfill your desires and go against any mandates or rules or laws regarding Covid 19. It is a sad time when humans who pretty much love celebrations and get togethers can not do so. Now you know how those who wanted to have a funeral for a loved one, or a couple wanting a big fancy wedding, or seniors in HS who couldn't attend prom or a graduation ceremony, how all those people feel. And I am sure there are more, like when it involves Holidays. For my Birthday, no party no gift, just staying at home with hubby, Christmas, a zoom with some relatives but otherwise, no decorations or tree, just sitting at home, New Years and Hubbys Birthday, we again sat at home doing nothing. In all this, Netflix keeps us occupied cus there isn't much else we can do but twiddle our thumbs. Since the start of when the public was notified of the pandemic, I have seen mandates change depending on whether numbers of infected go up or down and those numbers can't be guessed 2 months ahead as to whether there will be another lockdown. I say this because there still is so little known about the Covid 19 strain we've had running around all last year and up to now. But there are new strains supposedly worse in how easy to catch it. I can see another total shutdown coming if a new strain multiplies real fast. They may need to create a new vaccine which will probably be called some kind of booster shot. So if you want to try making reservations, a week before is more realistic. However going out to eat, even if a small group, means all of you are taking off your masks to eat which means you are not as protected and of course, the chance you could pass it on if you have it without symptoms as many have found was the case for them, including friends of mine. They had been aon a cruise ship early December 2019 and there were lots of Asians on that ship. They never had symptoms and that wouldn't help because all the people had not yet been told about the pandemic. They had us and a few others plus family over for a big pre Christmas party. Two weeks later, not knowing there was a pandemic, I got sick so fast it made my head spin. Going to bed feeling fine and waking up in the night totally congested with more phlegm than my sinus issues or allergies could give me, it literally scared me. But I took my immune system boosters and herb oil known to help you recover from viruses and it worked. My hubby only got a nagging cough and I never heard of any of the other guests getting it. Now imagine you and friends out eating, no one showing any signs of sickness. Two weeks later one of those friends is sick and dies. Now you have to live with the fact that even if your friend caught it from another guest, not you, there is still the guilt over having wanted a party so badly that your friends felt guilty not attending. But now one is dead because you wanted this party so bad. Yeah it was her choice to attend but she wouldn't have been attending if nothing was planned. The safest thing is to plan a Zoom Birthday party. Each member can buy or make a party hat to wear, each have an alcoholic drink to sip on and each of you eat a cupcake together just watching each other. The friends can mail you a gift ahead of time and watch you on Zoom opening the gifts. I know thats a sad replacement for the real thing but its better than the alternative, no party.
None of this is what you wanted to hear. The virus is for real. Although I don't know many who had it but recently a member of a church community dinner crew of about 20 at most of which I and hubby are part, is hospitalized with Covid in the last couple weeks. She always wore a mask with us and everywhere she went and yet she caught it. She could have passed it off to any of us while she did not have symptoms. Part of being an adult is doing the right thing, even if it isn't fun for you. I know that not having Christmas as I would wish to have it, did not have any lasting bad effects on me other than being dissapointed at the time, but I'd rather have my family alive than dead so I could've had my Christmas.
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You also have to be aware of COVID restrictions and the number of people who can gather in one place and if they must be in your immediate family living with you. That's a big issue. In most places you cannot dine indoors or only get take out or delivery.
They might not be able to take reservations or be operating as normal. I doubt you can reserve anything at any restaurant for these reasons. The same thing with a rooftop. If you throw a party on a rooftop you can get fined for doing it if caught not to mention even if nobody looks like they don't haves symptoms of COVID could get it or spread it. It's not a good idea to have your pregnant friend who is about to have a baby soon to be in a party environment.
It's the same deal with out of town people. They could be from an area that is in trouble with cases locally or a state even and then coming to see you could unknowingly bring COVID with them. It's no exaggeration but is happening a lot.
Because of this you will have to do something unconventional. Try setting up a Zoom meeting with everyone where you can see them and they can see you and do a party that way and ask them if they would be willing to go to your Amazon wish list for example and send you a surprise that way.
Another thing you could do is pick a public place such as a park near you or parking lot and stand the required 6ft way with masks on and text back and forth for a few minutes and exchange a gift and that be it for safety. I like the Zoom meeting idea.
You have to think about safety, COVID restrictions, a pregnant person's needs and that places you want to reserve could be shut down at a moment's notice. Having any kind of party be it on a roof or in your own home that people find out about or a case can be traced back to will land people in trouble.
I have to be honest that a lot of people no matter how much they love you or your relationship to them are likely not to want to come to an in person situation.
I think your friend who is going on a trip is either using an excuse or I hope not actually going on vacation during a pandemic. Reach out to them about a virtual party and gifts tactfully or even do a meeting and pick a charity to donate to in your name in lieu of a present or presents. Then when all this crap is over meet again and celebrate.
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