The Sixteenth Candle

Scene: a pixie redhaired girl siting cross legged on a dining room table. Across from her is a dream guy, cross legged with a look of admiration on his gorgeous face. They are both bathed in flickering candle light from a cake that seperates them. The cake holds sixteen candles. Roll credits. The girl stays virginal, the cake and the dream  guy go uneaten. Happy Birthday to me? How about fifteen more wishes unanswered? One answered beyond expectation. Those are the real life odds.... ******************************************************** Every year on my birthday i think of the movie ending to the worst birthday ever. ive had days that  ended this way and never progressed past the rolling credits. They are cherished lovely memories. Romance lives in  them for me and so does the hope that Birthday wishes dont end on the lighting of the cake but in the sweet love we make. Only fourteen wishes to go...maybe it takes all year to fufill them. But its always that one guy, the only one that really can blow out the candles with me. The one that i dont think knows im alive, and with good natured exhasperation, i have to remind my family i am as well. The wishes dont come true on my birthday either, just like our heroine.The day passes the wish is made and the future is holding its sweet secret for that unexpected gift of recognition. Never knowing when its coming or how it will get here but its possibility is real. The football quarterback in love with a regular girl and not caring about losing popularity points to date her. The cheerleader who falls for the mischievous nerd who steals her panties. The director who realizes these fantasies are better in matched romance than the super power couple who rules the prom. Because we dont ever truly fit that mold even if we achieve it. No one does, thats the mirage thats known by those who do. While envy lives on both sides of the fence for greener grass and sweeter birthday cake. A perfect day, a door opening to greater possibilities, a love returned; all common hopes and wishes. The ones fufilled sustain us, the ones lost and unfufilled pain us. The grass we stand on never green enough to satisfy anyone but the most complacant grass owner who lets their lawn go to grow or not. Today my birthday cake is leftover holiday treats. Covered pretzels, with white chocolate coating. i cant stick a candle in them but they are still deliscious. My promised gift wont be opened today and it wont be my dream guy...Hes somewhere out there forgetting about me as i write. My less than dreamy reality lives on. The movie moments arrive in it occassionally with singularly unexpected glory. They are my favorite films to replay. The sixteen year old girl in me hits rewind on them every day and never lets me feel to old to make a wish.