It's time to celebrate birthdays again

Yes, it's your birthday and you can celebrate it like you once did.
The pandemic, which crippled the United States for over a year, changed birthday celebrations in ways we had never seen. Now, we can celebrate birthdays the way we should.
Because of social distancing and orders not to mingle together, we had to think of other ways to honor our birthdays. There's nothing more enjoyable than to invite family and friends to a party paying tribute to someone's birthday.
Becky Braaten called me soon after the pandemic began and asked if I would be interested in taking photos at her grandson Cale's virtual birthday. She said family and friends were going to serenade Cale at his driveway.
Cale's party featured sidewalk chalk greetings on the driveway. Family and friends brought balloons and treats.
This virtual party was one of the first in Blooming Prairie and triggered many more as the pandemic raged on. I was part of a drive-by birthday party for my sister-in-law Cindi Hansen. This is when people began to wear masks.
Cindi's neighbor Corinne Swanson was next and had a car caravan go by her house, honking honors and stopping to sing for Corinne from a distance.
I even had a drive-by at my house. Cindi paid me back by putting up a sign on the front yard, "Honk, it's Howard's birthday."
It's always fun to share birthdays with other family members and friends. Some families have the same birthdays among them. Benji Bishop and son Carter Bishop have the same birthday.
My wife Judy has the same birthday as a close friend, Linda. Judy and Linda were born on the same day. Shhhhh! Nov. 24, 1948.
Someone squealed about my birthday this year and had it announced during church services Sunday at First Lutheran Church. This "Tweety Bird" had to be my chirping sister-in-law, Cindi.
It's a custom in our family to call family members on their birthday and wish them a happy birthday by chanting: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Friend, Happy Birthday to you, Cha Cha, Ooh La La, it's your birthday Ha Ha Ha!"
One of my favorite birthday songs was created by the Beatles. It goes like this:
"Birthday"
They say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
 
Ah
Ah
Ah
Come on
Come on
 
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
 
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Dance yeah
 
Oh
Come on
 
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Oh dance! Dance
 
They say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you