One Year Older

Tonight the hubby and I attended a Luau

in honor of the 50th birthday

of our neighbor, friend and bishop

as well as the 50th birthday

of the state of Hawaii.

It was fun to spend time

with lots of good friends

visiting and eating Hawaiian Haystacks.

One of my favorite parts of the event

was singing "Happy Birthday".

At our Arizona family birthday parties

the birthday song singing

is usually a painful experience.

I have a hard time figuring out

if we are all very horrible singers

or if singing off key

is just a beloved family tradition

that we want to preserve.

Tonight however "Happy Birthday to You"

actually sounded happy.

In fact, we sounded so good

that the honoree requested an encore.

We then endeavored to see

how many Primary Birthday songs we could come up with.

"You've had a birthday; shout "Hooray!"

We want to sing to you today.

One year older and wiser, too.

Happy Birthday to you."

"This month is such a special one;

It's birthday time for you.

We'd really like to celebrate

your happy day with you.

Zip-a-dee-ay and heigh-dee-ho,

Here's something we can do.

We'll sing a song that we all know,

Happy Birthday to You!"

"'Feliz Cupleanos'

that's how they say it in Spain."

I thought this one was especially appropriate

since the bishop served his mission in Spain,

but that's the only line

we could remember from the song.

We also couldn't skip

the old favorite

"Happy, happy birthday bishop dear.

Happy days will come to you all year.

If I had one wish then it would be

a happy, happy birthday to you from me."

It's amazing to me the flood

of warm memories

that these silly songs

bring to my mind.

Thoughts of enthusiastic actions,

specific individuals

singing with all their hearts,

little children growing older and older

each year until they left primary

and moved on to young womens

or became priesthood holders.

Oh, so many, many happy moments

and special people I remember

all because of some birthday songs.

Today I am thankful for

primary music.
old friends, and I'm not referring to someone turning 50 because I no longer consider that old.
one clean window.