This year I turned the big 3-0 and, though I didn't plan to do anything until the very last minute, and though it freaked me out a little bit to be turning another decade, it ended up being one of my favorite birthdays. After a really wonderful dinner on Saturday night, I got to have a lovely birthday brunch with Neill and my brother and sister in law Sunday, then go on to watch the San Francisco Giants obliterate the Milwaukee Brewers and take first place in their division (which they promptly lost, then re-won, then lost, then re-won again last night...torture). And in the very middle of the 5th inning, the coolest thing happened.
I thought it was odd when my sister in law came from 3 seats down to sit by me, then even odder when she told me to stand up and look out at the field so she could take my picture (why just me? why looking at the field?)...but then I saw it:
There on the jumbotron, after a couple of other birthday messages and a thanks to some sponsor, was the message my own parents had arranged for the week before: "Happy 30th Birthday Hilary 'Clark' Callis". I screamed and jumped up and down and could not stop laughing. It was something completely unexpected and so utterly cool...they had even asked for the name of my most favorite baseball player of all time (and crush throughout most of my childhood) to be included in there, too (Neill didn't mind). Almost a week later, and I still feel giddy. I will likely never play baseball for the San Francisco Giants, but I can be happy knowing that my name has been up in the lights of their ballpark.
In other news, with the help of a really lovely pattern and some really scrumptious yarn, the knitting mojo has returned.
32 comments:
happy birthday, hilary! (i must confess, i wasn't sure what i was clicking through to with the XXX in the title. and then i remembered, oh, Latin! sigh, thank god it is friday.) sounds like you had a wonderful celebration. and my, that shrug is GORGEOUS.
Happy belated birthday! That's is so cool, love what your parents did. :)
Gorgeous knitting mojo result too!!
Ahh, I saw you last week and I didn't know it was your birthday. Happy late bday!!! Having your name up on the jumbotron must be one of the coolest things ever! - Debi
ps. I feel the same way about my birthday. ;)
Makes me sad when people don't want to celebrate their birthdays. How can you not feel it's special? :)
What a special birthday! Here's to the fabulous new decade ahead of you.
Happiest of birthdays!
It sounds like you had a really amazing birthday-day. Very cool that your loved ones would do something so special for you.
And selfishly, I'm glad your knitting mojo is back.
Happy September 19th! Seriously, happy birthday! Have fun!
Happy belated birthday!! Sounds like it was a good one. I am also turning the big 3-0 next month, hope mine is as fun. I would love to see my name on the screen at the orioles game, but the chances of them ever still playing on oct 15 seem to be slim
Happy birthday! What a cool gift.
Since my Cardinals are out of it this year, I have sort of adopted the Giants as the team I'd like to see in the playoffs (having finally recovered from the Giants breaking my heart in the 2002 NLCS!). I love good pitching and their staff is awesome. As is Buster Posey. Plus I've been reading your blog for long enough to know you're a Giants fan, and I've been thinking of you while I've watched the scoreboard. Last night's game was great.
Also, your shrug is gorgeous!
Happy Birthday! I am with you - I get excited every year and take the day off of work as a gift to myself. I have the big 40 coming up in 2011 and I am angling for a NY trip - fingers crossed! How cool - such a baseball fan - that you would get your name on the big screen. Even though I am from Wisconsin, I am glad to hear the Brewers were obliterated on your big day;) (I'm a Cubs fan - hee) AND the sweater - magnificent!
Happy Birthday!! Great day.
And lovely little cardi :-)
a VERY HAPPY 30th to you. My little brother turned 30 yesterday.
He's been dreading it for a couple of years. I just turned 40 in June so it always comforts him knowing I am older.
what a SWEET surprise your family gave you. I love that and your sweater is BEAUTIFUL.
Nicely done!
:)
What a cool birthday you had!!!! That's such a great example of how parents ALWAYS know just what will excite their kids - whether they are 2 or 102 - LOL
Lovin what you have on the needles :)
XXX (birthday kisses)
Happy Birthday! love the new shrug too!! I think you are on a trip someplace right now...so have fun! Ali xx
Happy belated birthday! Somehow I'm not surprised that you're a fellow Virgo (mine was the 13th, and next year is the big XXXX). Glad you had a great day, and many happy returns!
Happy (now belated) Birthday! My husband (59) and my mother (83)BOTH celebrate their birthday on 09/19/(1951)(1927)! Neat!
Wow, I was there at the S.F. Giants game that very day - congratulations and Happy Birthday!!!! (and Go Giants!!!)
Now that's a great way to celebrate! Bonam diem natalem, Hilary.
BTW, Brave New Knits arrived on my doorstep over the weekend, and your contribution is just lovely! Great write-up, too. Hurray for working in the Classics angle, too. :-)
The Jumbotron Happy Birthday was awesome, how amazing!!! Happy belated birthday, I hope you had a fantastic time. That shrug is very cute!
How awesome! Happy Birthday to you!
aww. that was SO cool!
happy belated birthday, hillary!
and to think i was in sf and could have bought you a birthday drink! BUMMER!
love the shrug!
What a cool birthday surprise!
That is so awesome! I'm a huge baseball fan myself so I would have lost my shit, too, if I saw that for myself! Happy birthday!
That sounds like a perfect birthday celebration! The sweater is gorgeous...I can't wait to get to that one in my increasingly long queue!
Happy 30th!
Awww, Happy Birthday favorite Yarniad! I'm glad it was great.
I ignored mine this year, as much as I could. Totally odd, since I've always loved mine too. What a perfect present for such a Giants fan!
Wooo!! Such a cool, thoughtful ting for your parents to give you on your birthday!
I totally agree about one's birthday having that "electric" feel. That's the perfect way to describe it.
I'm glad to hear you had such a great day!
Happy 30 :)
Happy 30th Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday! I just turned 30 last Monday! All the panic and changes aside, it's nice to have made it this far in life. Here's hoping we both get to have 30 more.
-Liza
Happy belated, it was great seeing your boys make the playoffs!!
How cool is that? You have a great family, and it sounds like they celebrated your big day perfectly. I think birthdays are special, too! :)
Happy belated birthday! And that is SO COOL about having your name on the jumbotron! Jealous!!
And good luck with that mojo too. I look forward to hearing how things unfold! Congratulations!!
happy birthday Hilary ;)
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