Birthday phone calls

[Beachclubmum]

Do you still get and expect a phone call on your birthday?

I had the strangest experience this year...most of my family members just texted me. Even my own mother (although I will see her this weekend). One adult child called me; 2 others texted. One parent and one MIL called me. One sister texted how busy she was with house guests who were leaving and that she would get back to me later (she hasn't). Wasn't sure whether to be upset or to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I will say that we all communicate frequently by text and keep up with each other that way so maybe this is just the natural extension.

 

[bogey21]

...most of my family members just texted me.

I wouldn't get the messages as I have both text messaging and voice mail blocked on my clam shell...

George

 

[Timeshare Von]

I believe it is the way of the 21st century, sadly. Think about just how few people write thank you or sympathy cards these days. I still do, and almost always get a remark afterwards about it.

 

[DaveNV]

If I didn’t get texts or Facebook birthday wishes, I’d never get any at all. Calls are rare, cards are virtually nonexistent. But 50 or 60 people I know, like, and care about from all over the country wishing me Happy Birthday on Facebook is pretty nice.

Dave

 

[geekette]

I get calls and sometimes cards. I don't text, most of us do not do FB.

For my 50th, my brother drove 10 hours to arrive in the middle of the night and decorate my yard. I caught him trying to tie a pink flamingo to my door. he didn't realize that I'm a night owl.

Best birthday surprise ever!

 

[rapmarks]

My birthday is dec 23
Usually people are too busy or call the next day to combine with Christmas wishes
That has been the way it is my entire life.

 

[klpca]

My birthday is on the first of the month. I usually get a few messages on my birthday and many more a few days later when people turn their calendar page over and realize that they missed it. Since I am usually at work, a text is almost better than a call since I don't answer personal calls during the day.

 

[DaveNV]

My birthday is dec 23
Usually people are too busy or call the next day to combine with Christmas wishes
That has been the way it is my entire life.

My stepmother’s birthday was Dec. 18. She said as a child, her birthday gifts usually came wrapped in Christmas paper. When she received a gift wrapped in actual birthday wrapping paper, it was a big deal for her. She always felt her birthday gifts were diverted from the Christmas pile. For the entire time I knew her, starting in the mid-1960s when I was 11, until her passing in 2005, I gave her fresh flowers for her birthday every year, in a birthday arrangement. That way she always knew exactly what it meant.

Dave

 

[VacationForever]

My son calls me on my birthday if I am not with him on the day. My friends FB and WhatsApp me on my birthday. My sister who lives 9000 miles away emails me.

 

[Cornell]

I absolutely hate talking on the phone , so for me, I'd much rather get some sort of electronic greeting or the best of all -- a physical card in my mailbox.

 

[WinniWoman]

Just my son- usually towards the end of the day, leaving me always wondering if he forgot, and my brother. Maybe a couple of texts, but most on Facebook.

No more physical cards except from my brother. My aunt usually sends an electronic card.

Years ago I couldn't understand why no one ever said anything on Facebook about my birthday and I was kind of bummed, yet I was always getting notices about their birthdays and of course, wished them happy birthday. Then I realized I did not have my birthday on my profile so no one knew it was my birthday.

 

[VacationForever]

Oh yes, my son also sends me an ecard.

 

[controller1]

I don't text, most of us do not do FB.

Is "us" your family?

My birthday is dec 23
Usually people are too busy or call the next day to combine with Christmas wishes
That has been the way it is my entire life.

I'm with you on this one as my birthday is December 25. Most people seem to take a break from Facebook so most of my Facebook birthday wishes are a day late.

 

[bbodb1]

I wouldn't get the messages as I have both text messaging and voice mail blocked on my clam shell...

George

George,

You are a renaissance man!

 

[clifffaith]

My birthday is dec 23
Usually people are too busy or call the next day to combine with Christmas wishes
That has been the way it is my entire life.

Tell me about it! December 30 here, with Mom & Dad's anniversary 26th and Dad's birthday 27th. I've mentioned before that I moved my birth celebration to my half birthday June 30. But Dad always called me (from 5 miles away) on Dec 30 to see if he could catch me not recalling it was my real birthday ( I got to 5pm one Dec 30, and only because I was standing at the grocery store writing a check did I realize it was my birthday). Also had a now deceased friend whose grandmother was born Dec 30 that would call me, in spite of having also sent a card.

 

[clifffaith]

I absolutely hate talking on the phone , so for me, I'd much rather get some sort of electronic greeting or the best of all -- a physical card in my mailbox.

I must have a stack of two dozen birthday cards (I'm not above keeping cards charities send me unsolicited, and try to pick up pretty cards from the $1-2 shelf at the card store), as well as assorted Get Well and Thank You cards. But Cliff insists on spending $20 each year for mostly lame American Greeting cards online. So I leave him to send his virtual friends those. And of course he is always on the look out for fart cards for his brother. When it took him 15 minutes to pay at the car wash yesterday, I knew he was looking at cards. Then he had to hear it from me "$4 for a card!". Shortly followed by "OMG, a car wash is now $20!!!" We were just killing time until the notary at our financial advisor's office was back from lunch so she could notarized our Diamond give-back papers. Car WAS filthy, but Cliff had been doing do-it-yourself washes for $6 since we moved away from this particular car wash 20 years ago. What an eye opener!

 

[pedro47]

Texting have taken the place of mailing birthday cards and a simple telephone call wishing a person a Happy Birthday. We however, still prefers mailing birthday cards and calling the birthday person and wishing them a Happy Birthday.

 

[bogey21]

I absolutely hate talking on the phone...

My Son tell me I am the only person he calls. Everything else is via text messaging. I asked him why? He said if he talked on the phone conversations would drift and he would be tied up for extended periods. He says communicating via text avoids that and is more efficient. Actually makes sense...

George

 

[pedro47]

Texting in the USA today, is one of reason that the young generation cannot write or spell IMHO. LOL

 

[DaveNV]

Texting in the USA today, is one of reason that the young generation cannot write or spell IMHO. LOL

Wut r u tkn abt?

Dave

 

[am1]

For my birthday except for a few I would prefer less phone calls. It’s my day at least in my world. Same goes for my wife for me as it becomes overwhelming to listen to. 4 years in a row I’ve had over a hundred people at my birthday party and to me that is what counts. Or a text or Facebook post.

 

[mdurette]

A text is better than nothing I guess.

 

[geekette]

Is "us" your family?

Yes. I don't generally tell people when my birthday is so don't expect friends nor work mates to know.

Birthdays weren't a big fuss. Everyone has one every year, it's not that special. Gives us a reason to phone but usually not gifts, maybe cards, maybe not.

 

[klpca]

btw, my kids use full words when texting, so all is not lost.

(irony - I just used btw. Lolol)

 

[AnnaS]

A call here and there. Less and less each year. Almost down to all texts and FB messages. I do receive three cards each year - my two sons/daughter-in-laws and one of the daughter-in-law's mom.

Curious what my daughter will do for my next birthday. My first one she is not living home.....will it be a card, text or card?