Oct 17, 2014 3 min read

My birthday, Oct. 11, was last Saturday. I was trying to keep it a secret. A few weeks before, I hid my birthday notification on Facebook. It didn’t seem like a big deal, and I didn’t want a fuss. Last year, I got hundreds of “Happy birthday” messages, and it was overwhelming because I tried to answer each one individually. Talk about a first world problem!

This year, I went off to see “Macbeth” on my special day. Aside from my high school English teacher, Mr. Weprich, I can’t think of anyone else who would want to see “Macbeth” on their birthday.

Side note: Back in high school, Mr. Weprich took a group of us to see “Twelfth Night.”

I laughed so hard I got hiccups. Then, I hiccupped so loudly, I got “side eye” from the actors. They actually stopped the scene and waited for me. I ducked under my seat. The embarrassment was so overwhelming it cured my hiccups. After all, it was the hiccup that shook Illyria!

I should count it in my “Top 10 Embarrassing Moments,” however, if a list were to exist, many, many moments would vie for the top spots.

But I digress, like I do. I went to see the Scottish play with my friend Josh. I didn’t tell him it was my birthday, either. Before the show, we went to the Porch for dinner. It was delicious.

At the show, I ran into a bunch of people I knew: actors, crew and fellow patrons of the arts.

I loved the show. It was a terrific version of the play with some of the best actors working in Pittsburgh. I even liked the costumes.

After the show, Josh and I were invited to the opening night party.

At the same time, I was carousing with cast, crew and patrons of the arts, a relative remembered my birthday and posted a “Happy birthday” message on Facebook. Someone spilled the beans.

The next day, I was chastised by a bunch of partygoers who all said, “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday.” I was, once again, overwhelmed (in a good way) by the well-wishers, but couldn’t help but think how silly it would have looked if I ran around the opening night party for “Macbeth” telling people it was my birthday.

“Hey, dude who played Macduff, today’s my birthday!” I know what you’re thinking, “Lay off Macduff. He didn’t know.”

The next day, Josh said, “If I would have known, I would have bought you dinner.” It was the exact reason I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want special treatment for living another year.

In retrospect, it’s a weird thing to celebrate. To me, after I turned 21, there doesn’t seem like any reason to mention it. And I am a few years past my 21st birthday.

I am picturing someone spitting out coffee on their newspaper or iPad going, “Few!?” Jerks.

I would like to personally thank everyone who wished me “Happy birthday!”

I promise next year to wear a T-shirt or a pin or something that says, “Today is my birthday!”