My Sweet 16 Birthday that Never happened

When I was in high school and about to turn 16, I have heard about the sweet 16’s birthday parties and the fun those people had, and planned their birthdays that it was perfect, the people who had gone to those parties, the decorations, the planning all kicked off perfectly.

Even though I did not have friends back in the day, and those who I thought were somehow, I decided to throw a sweet 16 birthday party for me. As I had invited 20 people from my school. So now when it came toward the last couple of days to my birthday, I assured people to ask if they are going to be attending my birthday and they said yes we will be there. I got so excited. I remember it was April 28, 2001, on a Saturday and Monday is my real birthday on the 30th, and decided to have it 2 days early because of School on the right day.

As I had begun decorating, and had ordered the cake and the food, as well has putting some games so people can play. As the time was nearing for people to come, I got so excited that I stood by the door to wait for them to come, my anticipation was growing deeper. As I looked at the time again and it was 2pm where the time said on the invitations, I look at the clock and it said 2:15. I said ok its ok, they are running late. Then one person came around 2:30, I welcome her into the house and she decided to wait with me. then it became almost 4pm, and it was just her and I was devastated, humiliated, embarrassed, and crying so much.

That one girl who came to my party wiped my tears away and said it will be ok. Don’t worry, I am here. lets enjoy together. Who cares about the rest that stood you up? I said yeah you are right. So we enjoyed the food, and desert and cake and watched a couple of movies until it was time for her to go home. She hugged me and said, Talin, do not worry about anybody else, they are cowards. God is watching them. Then she left as her mom came and picked her up. My heart shattered to pieces. It was a feeling that I never wish on anybody else.

After her leaving, I let out a huge cry. I said, I cannot believe this happened to me and my mom comforted me and told me, don’t worry God will punish them. So Monday came and I was still crying and devastated. I did not enjoy my real 16th birthday, but I did go out to dinner with my family, which made everything better. I actually skipped school for a couple of days and just stood home. I just didn’t feel like seeing anybody. Then I decided to go to school on the Wednesday, and none of them said I am sorry and did not bother to give me an explanation as to why they did that. All the planning, food and everything went to waste, however we kept the food and ate it throughout the week.

From then on, I didn’t care about interacting with anybody and I just went about and studied, did my homework, attended all my classes, and then once school was finished, I’d never waste another second and just go home. I was so disgusted. That one girl changed schools the year after because her family had moved somewhere further, and that really made me even cry more. She was the only one who really cared. It was so nice of her. I still have the give she gave me 14-15 years later.

As I reached another milestone this year. At the end of April on the 30th of 2015, I will be celebrating my champagne birthday turning 30 on 30 and it is coming up so quickly. As I almost say Goodbye to my 20’s, I am truly hoping that I can have a sweet 30th birthday that will make up for the sweet 16th birthday I never had. I know it is not good to expect it, but when you’ve never had a birthday party reaching a milestone, it makes you wonder how and what might have been. I just want to have a great time with my lovely and beautiful loved ones I have in my life which really matter to me more than anything else.

Have you experienced a disappointing turnout at a party or function you have had? I am sure you felt humiliated and distraught. Have you had a similar situation where people didn’t bother to show up and not telling you why and not having the common decency to call and explain? If you have, I am so sorry to hear that. I know exactly how you feel. It is not a good feeling at all.

Hopefully nobody has to go through what I went through. Best wishes to you and may your dreams come true, because everyday is our birthday and celebrate it by the gift of breathing and living through another day. We are blessed and that is what matters the most.

Merry Armenian Christmas — Orthodox Christmas

Armenia

Armenians celebrate Christmas (surb tsnunt, Սուրբ Ծնունդ, meaning “saint birth”) on January 6 as a public holiday in Armenia. It also coincides with the Epiphany. Traditionally, Armenians fast during the week leading up to Christmas. Devout Armenians may even refrain from food for the three days leading up to the Christmas Eve, in order to receive the Eucharist on a “pure” stomach. Christmas Eve is particularly rich in traditions. Families gather for the Christmas Eve dinner (khetum, Խթում), which generally consists of: rice, fish, nevik (նուիկ, a vegetable dish of green chard and chick peas), and yogurt/wheat soup (tanabur, թանապուր). Dessert includes dried fruits and nuts, including rojik, which consists of whole shelled walnuts threaded on a string and encased in grape jelly, bastukh (a paper-like confection of grape jelly, cornstarch, and flour), etc. This lighter menu is designed to ease the stomach off the week-long fast and prepare it for the rather more substantial Christmas Day dinner. Children take presents of fruits, nuts, and other candies to older relatives.

It is frequently asked as to why Armenians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25 with the rest of the world. Obviously, the exact date of Christ’s birth has not been historically established—it is not recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ’s birth on January 6 until the fourth century. According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6 to December 25 in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25. At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. In order to undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designated December 25 as the official date of Christmas and January 6 as the feast of Epiphany. However, Armenia was not affected by this change for the simple fact that there were no such pagan practices in Armenia, on that date, and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6 until today.^[42]

In addition to the Christmas tree (tonatsar, Տօնածառ), Armenians (particularly in the Middle East) also erect the Nativity scene. Christmas in the Armenian tradition is a purely religious affair. Santa Claus does not visit the nice Armenian children on Christmas, but rather on New Year’s Eve. The idea of Santa Claus existed before the Soviet Union and he was named kaghand papik (Կաղանդ Պապիկ), but the Soviet Union had a great impact even on Santa Claus. Now he goes by the more secular name of Grandfather Winter (dzmerr papik, Ձմեռ Պապիկ).

CREDITS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwide

Had A Great Birthday Yesterday – Thank You For The Wishes

for 28 years now on April 30th, I celebrate my birthday. I am so happy and glad for all my birthdays and I am ever so grateful to God for giving me this life and I thank my parents for bringing me into this world and to experience everything I have experienced in my life, with traveling to many places, for giving me everything, a roof over my head, a nice warm bed to sleep in, food to eat and so much more. I am so thankful for everything as I look around the world and people do not even have running water to drink and bathe from. I am so fortunate and I have learned not to take anything from granted in my life.

There were times where some of my birthdays did not go as well as I had hoped for. Once in high school when I turned 16 years old, I had invited about 30 people to come over to my house for my sweet 16 birthday party and it was one of the most embarrassing yet humiliating things in my life where only one person showed up out of all the others. I was thinking they were my friends and everything but they really weren’t. I was devastated that I could not have a sweet 16 party, and also I never knew what it felt like to have a surprise birthday party or even had a big party to celebrate me and my day. I never knew what that feeling was like. I didn’t even know the feeling of when I turned 20, 21 years old where I would have a great party, but I did go to Montreal for my birthdays quite a lot in my early 20’s and to get away from things and to enjoy a dance club here and there with my friends in Montreal. The only parties I have ever had was when I was a kid where a lot of my family came over to celebrate and that is about it. To me The gifts weren’t important, but being with my family and couple of friends is what I want.

I know parties should not matter and everything, but in my case it does. In my early adult life and as an adult now, I want to be able to know what it feels like to have a party. I know that I can create my own party and have people over and stuff and go out but I just get those bad memories again when I was 16 years old. I really never had a lot of friends to begin with and I invited all those people and never showed up except for one. I was crushed and cried for days. I just want to know what it feels like to have a party and its all about me and having people around me that has come to celebrate me. I am hoping that will happen soon. I sometimes feel so isolated and they are feelings that I never want to get back. Nowadays everything is great. My beautiful friends took me out for my birthday over the weekend and surprised me with a cake which was so sweet of them. I will never forget that.

What have you experienced in the past about your birthday? Did you have a birthday that was a blast or not such a blast?

Anyways, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends and fans for all the birthday wishes, the phone calls, text messages, e-mails, facebook messages, the birthday cards, the birthday e-greetings, virtual cakes, flowers and everything. I really appreciate it so much from the bottom of my heart. I love you all!

Celebrating The Day Of My Birth — April 30, 2012

Well, another year has come by. I will start a new journey as a year older today. I am so happy for the life I have been given already. I have so many people to thank, I have so much to be thankful for. Spending time with my loved ones, doing the things I want to do today. Its all gonna be great. I had a lovely supper for my birthday surrounded by family. I am super happy with everything in my life and of course more importantly everyone in it. As I turn 27 today, I am planning on making new goals for myself, planning on doing more incredible things. I will not give up on my blogging, that is one of the main things, I will not stop trying to make a difference in the world with my words, positivity and more. God has blessed me with so much and I love him so much for giving it all, and My parents, my brother, my other family members, friends, facebook family, friends from social networks all those who have already called me, texted me, blackberry messengered me, e-mailed me and everything else. Thanks everyone.

I believe age is just a number and its how you feel about yourself and how you feel all around is what counts. I am excited, I feel my 27th year is going to be one I won’t forget. I just feel it. Thank you for all the love!

Don’t forget today is also TAX Season expiry day 🙂

Love you all very much and thank you all for being continued supporters! I believe everyday is your birthday and everyday is a second chance.

Living My Last 24 Hours of Being 26 Years Old! Thankful for Another Year!

Wow What a year it has been! I am living my last 24 hours of being 26 years old. This year brought me happiness, new discoveries about myself, discovering my passion and talent, my blogging website which is so important to me in spreading positive, happiness to people around the world, also making new friends, traveling to many cities and visiting Cuba, becoming a bridesmaid for the first time at my brothers wedding, and then a few months later at my good friends wedding. It also brought me some sad times, and times of grief of losing 3 family members within 2 months span. It brought fortunate and unfortunate times. I am so happy to be healthy, and kicking which is the most important thing above anything else. without health were nothing. So Thank God!

This year I was taught so many things about so many different things, on trust, who my true friends are, learning from people who inspire me in so many ways, learning different things from my fellow bloggers, and readers who continuously comment and engage into my blog, my family, my friends, my facebook, social networking family. Thank you all for giving me an incredible 26th year which I will never ever forget. It was a year full of learning, it was one heck of a year.

LOL Some people tell me your born right on April 30th when Tax season expires. Wow what a day huh? lol

All in all I am so thankful to God for giving me my 26th year, that I will never forget and most of all, spending time with family, friends and interacting with my facebook family this year. I love you all!

Here is to 27 IN 24 Hours from now!

Well, Hello April! Nice seeing you Again! – What a Month It Will Be…

Well, Hello April! I cannot believe how time is flying by so quickly. This month will be a jam packed one for me as Easter  Celebrations are just around the corner, as I will be super busy going to church and being with family and friends. I am looking forward to a couple of trips I will take this month. I also will be traveling to Ottawa, Canada, Canada’s Capital and every year on April 24th, We embark on a journey from Parts of Ontario and Quebec and other places and we commemorate the Armenian Genocide at the Parliament Hill at noon then we head to the Turkish Embassy to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of what the Turkish Ottoman Empire committed those crimes against humanity and killed 1.5 Million Armenians. This month will be a bittersweet month with the good and the bad, but this month will be my birthday but not until the end of this Month on the 30th. I have so much to do this month, but not enough hours in the day to do it all in. Well, today is Palm Sunday and its a time where I will go to church to be with my family, seeing friends and people I haven’t seen in a while. I need to make an effort to attend church a lot more often. I do attend bible studies every Thursday nights, but that is not enough. I am going to make the extra effort to attend church on Sundays and that will start again this month. I used to go all the time, but it will start again. I want to bond with God again and I want to go into God’s house more. Today is also April Fools day. When I was in school, I remember we used to do so many things to fool and trick people, but now for several years, I just don’t do it anymore. I should, its fun lol but since its Palm Sunday, I don’t feel it is appropriate. I believe for me going to church is far more important than tricking somebody or some people. Well, here is to April! See you tomorrow!