Happy (?) Birthday

Today is my birthday. I was surrounded by my family, friends, classmates, and given everything I could ask for. I woke up at 12am to my first birthday wish, I have 32 minutes left and I am still receiving wonderful messages.

But as my day progressed, this feeling in the back on my mind kept getting stronger and stronger. By the time I got home, I was in a really sad mood and I couldn't figure out why. After all, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! But then an hour later my question was answered. I got a call from my best friend.

Who moved away.

She sang in a high pitched voice, "Happy birthday!", but I could tell something was wrong. This conversation only led to how I constantly miss her, and she wants to come home. And I realized, this was the feeling that was creeping up on me all day. This feeling of the day being incomplete. I knew something was missing, and I was consciously trying to forget about the fact she wasn't here.

So my question is, why do we remember those we miss on the days we celebrate? For example, brithdays, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, etc. Even on our birthdays, we talk to over 200 people, isn't that a distraction? Or does it only exemplify the fact that those we love are missing?

By the time she had finished catching me up on her past few days, I couldn't even bare to stay on the phone. I was overwhelmed with sadness because I knew she wasn't going to be coming to dinner. She wouldn't be at my party, sharing my cake, or taking pictures of me and my family.

Days of celebration are interesting things.
We celebrate, but sometimes these days are the saddest of all.