I was born into the Lousy Birthday Club. If you are a member, you know about it. The club is for those born between roughly December 20 - January 1. It’s a club of folks who get/got lost in the Holiday festivities. There were joint birthday/Christmas gifts, birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper as a kid. In grade school I had no parties at school and often no kid parties at home as my friends’ families were too busy with things and often went on vacations.

Legally my birthday is December 30. It should have been January 6^th. My parents were young and I was the third child in less than 4 years. My father talked with my mother’s doctor to see if I could be born BEFORE the end of the year so he could deduct me from their income tax. My mother went along with it, and it happened. It was told as a joke in my family, but it was true and I never liked it.

After I got sober, I decided that I could change when I celebrated. I changed it to January 6^th, the day I was due. I also liked that day because instead of being a tax deduction I would be celebrating the Epiphany, the day of celebration and gifts for the birth of the baby Jesus.

Over the years since, I know friends and family found it confusing to know which day I was celebrating my birthday. I got comfortable telling them that just remembering was most important to me. It meant more to me to not celebrate the 30^th than it needed to be for them.

At a meeting just last week, the topic was about Change, New Year’s blessings, and the gift of sobriety. In a flash, I experienced what I call a God Shot. My natal birthday and my chosen birthday mattered BUT the birthday that really mattered was my Sobriety birthday. My life was changed forever that day and if I stay close to AA and God that birthday will last for the rest of my life. AA is the best birthday club I can belong to.

Libbie S.