For two years now, I’ve refrained from wishing anyone a happy birthday via Facebook. I just wouldn’t do it. I think birthdays are very special days, and do extend a greeting over Facebook on such an occasion was tacky and impersonal. Besides family, close friends, nobody got a happy birthday from me unless I knew it was your birthday. In which case I’d either see ya or call ya. It was some rebellious thought I had about sincerity and social media.
I’m not going to let Facebook dictate my well wishing. No way. Where do you get off putting everyone’s birthday’s on my calendar? Not my style. Just mindlessly writing a “Happy Birthday” on someone’s wall. Adding a “man” or, “Terry” or some other reference as to how you’re acquainted. Nah. Get lost. Goddamn Facebook birthdays.
Then I realized how silly and childish that mindset was.
It was birthday’s. People’s birthdays for Pete’s sake. You see it on the screen. Just because its’ Facebook telling you it’s someone’s birthday, does that change anything? Only if you let it.
You know the person. Get over the fact you may or may not have realized it their birthday and do it. Wish him or her a happy birthday. It’s not hard. Not every happy birthday is a masterpiece, but the fact that you’re delivering it is what counts. Last time I checked, a lay in off the glass and a windmill dunk are both worth two points.
I realized this when my own birthday came around on January 29th. I’d get my turn with the birthday paddle. Waves of well wishes, let’s catch up’s, embarrassing photos, and outskirt where’d-you-come-from?’s. And also the people just generically saying happy birthday, it all counts. We’ll call those made free-throws. And free-throws win ballgames.
So what the hell, I’m back on the happy birthday train. I’m over it. When it comes down to it, it’s a nice thing to do. It’s letting someone know you’re there and you care.
And if someday Johnny, you grow up to do enough where everyone can get a day off on your birthday, you’ll be rolling in happy birthday’s for centuries pal.
Because there’s two words that never get old when it’s the day you were born: Happy Birthday.
Jake Berent 
Very nicely said…..love and miss you