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Under the radar

CJ Antichow
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prompts for august 2026

Of all your birthdays, which one was your favorite? And why?

Because I’m Gen X, my birthdays as a kid were low-key. Or maybe my parents were just low-key.

I’m not even sure Mom bought balloons.

There would be a special meal (for me roast chicken dinner) and cake (marble in a bundt pan right from a cake mix box, my fave).

We were allowed to have friends over some of the time but really just to play and hangout, the odd time we’d have one of them sleepover.

We would open a present or two and that’s that.

I was appreciative but none of my birthdays really stand out. One year Dad took my friends and I on a sleigh ride behind our horse, over the fields. It wasn’t really that big a deal for farm-girl me, but my town friends thought it was cool.

As an adult, I hide from my birthdays. I would prefer the day to come and go, pretty much unnoticed. I mean, if Clint and the kids want to buy me things then cool. I removed my bday from Facebook so that I won’t have to reply to one hundred and fifty HBD greetings from people I barely know.

This year is the big 5-0 and unlike some people who plan big adventures or parties, that won’t be me. I want to leave my forties under the radar. Plus it’s December 21 so always people have their time (and money) occupied with Christmas.

I’ve been really slack with taking selfies lately, also I do miss my long, completely dried out, damaged hair but my lady said it had to go, it’ll grow back…

20 responses to “Under the radar”

  1. Michael Williams Avatar
    Michael Williams

    i hear you with this thought. my birthdays have now become more celebration of my mom becoming a mom than little ol’ me popping out and causing massive disruptions everywhere. Mike

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Lol Mike 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Fairweather Walker Avatar
    Fairweather Walker

    Your hair looks fabulous!

    When I turned 40, a high school friend invited other good friends for a special meal at her home and I had to miss it because I got so sick I couldn’t attend. Underlying psychosis, perhaps? I don’t think I’d ever been so sick. Nor did I think I had any problem turning 40.

    My worst birthday was when Himself got a cake and invited his parents, brother and sister-in-law, and their 4 kids to the tiny house where we were living. We could hardly fit everyone in and I could hardly wait till they left. This was the way he celebrated birthdays and he thought he was doing something nice for me, when it was only an ordeal. I wasn’t grateful and he was angry. “I’ll never do anything for your birthday again,” he said. “Good,” said I.

    Best? One time the aforementioned high school friend threw a fancy dinner party for me and I was touched that she went to so much trouble on my behalf, and actually enjoyed the evening.

    Other than that, I remember none! My idea of a good birthday celebration is a night out for a good meal with my honey; just the two of us.

    For my kids as children, it was a cake of their choice, gifts of course, and one friend staying over if they liked. They were happy with that and never asked for anything different.

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      My best friend growing up now lives in Idaho and she ushered the 50’s in at some famous hotel in Palm Springs and was there with her friends, dressed in 50’s clothes and drove 50’s convertibles and even had a photographer. They did costume changes ‘n everything. I could never. I hope it goes mostly unnoticed, well except yeah I do like presents lol
      Oh and I ain’t cooking!!!

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  3. Mary K. Doyle Avatar
    Mary K. Doyle

    I think that birthdays should be fun no matter how old. I celebrate you, my friend.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Yes fun is great! But really I’d just prefer the birthday go under the radar so I can keep pretending I’m 37 😂
      Thanks though Mary!

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. M. Avatar
    M.

    Looking good for nearly 50. For 5 years I planned to have a big 50th, then the pandemic happened and my birthday was spent with Covid for 2 weeks with 102° fever 🫤 My ice cream cake from Carvel was prophetic i had it say “It sucks to be 50” and boy did it ever. I think like you I never had kids over to celebrate, low key my parents and my brother although for my 8th bday my brother threw a surprise party but invited ALL the kids from the nieighborhood, so there were 7-15 year olds..i was a shy kid…i hated that party 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Thank you!
      Oh man a Covid sucky 50th! Sounds like it was memorable for all the wrong reasons 😩

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. M. Avatar
        M.

        Eeeyup 🤒🥺

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Michael B. Fishman Avatar
    Michael B. Fishman

    “It wasn’t really that big a deal for farm-girl me, but my town friends thought it was cool.”

    I think that sounds pretty cool.

    Signed,
    Town person

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      The things we take for granted eh?

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Michael B. Fishman Avatar
        Michael B. Fishman

        Yes. And the things we dismiss out of hand. When I was younger I had zero time for rural living or farms. Now I’d opt for that life in an instant.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. CJ Antichow Avatar
        CJ Antichow

        I sometimes think about what my life would’ve been like if I’d stayed on the farm, helped Dad and maybe even eventually taken it over. I know I could’ve done it, but at the time I didn’t even feel like it was an option.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. justrojie Avatar
    justrojie

    sleigh rides would have been awesome!! and yes, I agree with M, looking great!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      There’s nothing like gliding over the snow, powered by a horse, it’s so quiet.
      Thx Rojie ☺️

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. amidlifeadventure Avatar
    amidlifeadventure

    The world is full of people with varying views. My birthdays were pretty quiet as my parents didn’t have a lot of money and it was winter but they were always a celebratory day.

    When I had my children everything changed and birthdays became a real thing. I believe birthdays are more important than Christmas. It’s the one day a year that is your special day, a day to celebrate you!
    So I’m at the other end of the scale to you CJ and have fabulous memories of key birthdays as an adult and mother.
    When I was 50 my son turned 18 and my daughter turned 16 and we celebrated our 16-18-50 year in style from chasing a rainbow, to experiencing the summer solstice to spending a month away and everything in between. I also did a 50 things to do when you turn 50, I must dig that out, did I complete it 🧐

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      That’s so cool, good for you!

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  8. kwholley63 Avatar
    kwholley63

    don’t really remember them other than have a piece of cake and go back outside. Never any gatherings

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Interesting how everyone’s version of birthdays are sooo different!

      Liked by 1 person

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  9. Edward Ortiz Avatar
    Edward Ortiz

    I only remember one birthday where my mom took me to eat pizza and then we saw a movie. I don’t celebrate my birthday much, we usually just go out to eat and then head back to the house, but we sure celebrate our son’s birthdays with cake, balloons, and everything else that goes with it. Awesome photo, my friend!

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