Since March 23, 2020, when New York State officially closed down, my family has celebrated five birthdays, including my own. Three birthdays have been milestones, my two now twenty-five year old’s and my now thirty year old.

Prior to March 23, 2020, my family would celebrate birthdays by having the person whose birthday it was choose their favorite restaurant for dinner. With significant others and Grandma in tow, we would reserve a table for the ten of us and always have a fun, festive celebration.

Covid-19 changed the way we celebrated our birthdays. Since March 23, 2020, I have had to be more creative to make the occasion festive. I have ordered balloons, waiting outside Party City in my car, at the beginning of June for over an hour with others who also pre-ordered balloons. Apparently, balloons have become a huge part of celebrations during the pandemic. I have ordered quarantine birthday tee shirts (thank you Laurel for the idea, both of my daughters loved them), special cakes as well as special food (stuffed parmigiana pizza).

I am thinking about the next birthday that is coming upon our family in October. It is my husband’s sixtieth birthday. Last year, on his fifty-ninth birthday, I quickly realized as to how I could perfectly surprise him in 2020 for this milestone. Of course, the idea involved a surprise party, outside my home with family and friends. And while he has repeatedly said that he does not want a party, I knew he would secretly love the surprise I was planning.

In the state of uncertainty in which we are living, I have sadly realized that I cannot move forward with my original plan. It involved too many people. And there are members of our family who do not feel comfortable eating inside of a restaurant, who I know he would want to be there. And, while I would consider an outdoor celebration, in October  I must consider the possible effects of weather on the party.

So now again I find myself trying to creatively plan a special birthday celebration during a pandemic. Any suggestions?