Birthday Cake

As my 40th Birthday approached, I began to wonder what I should do about the traditional birthday cake ritual that is synomonous with celebrating this event with friends and family.

I find this much less of a dilemma with other people's birthdays because I simply abstain from the cake and enjoy the celebration along with others who are enjoying the sugary confection. No problem really.

What to do about MY birthday though?! I mean, I don't want cake and is it really a gift to me to watch others eating something that I've given up? I could handle the temptation but it makes you wonder what it's all about.

On the other hand, what is a birthday celebration without a cake? A candle on a pear or apple just isn't the same, even in my opinion!

I decided to take matters into my own hands and began devising plans for a healthy almond-milk ice cream cake. I described my idea to Shawn who so sensitively commented, "Who, but you, is going to eat that?"
My daughter put a comforting arm around me and said that it sounded good and she would try it. She then told her dad what she thought about his "meanness". Daughters are wonderful.

It turns out that I didn't have time to put my plans into action. Not only did my "mean" husband plan a surprise party for me a few days before my birthday but he also arranged for a health-savvy friend of mine to bake a healthy sugar/artificial sweetener-free cake for me. I was almost speechless at this guesture. It meant more than words can say that he would think of my preferences in this way and that my dear friend would go through so much effort to make it happen.

The cake was delicious (to those of us who are less exposed to traditional goodies) and I am definitely getting the recipe. I still plan on experimenting with my ice-cream version but at least I know if that effort fails, I have another option for future birthdays.