29

I woke up to her birthday morning today.

SHE: (Hugs) Gising na. Magluluto pa tayo ng breakfast.

ME: (Groggy) Hm.

SHE: (Nodges me) Gising na. Magluluto pa tayo ng breakfast.

ME: Tayo?

SHE: Oo.

ME: Gimme a break.

SHE: (Hits my upper arm) Dapat yata ako nagsasabi nyan a.

She complained that I'd been picking on her since last night. Don't ask me. I don't remember what it was all about.

But at exactly 11:59 last night, I sang "Happy Birthday" to her and cut the song near the end just so I could sing her the last line at exactly 12 AM.

ME: Happy birthday, happy birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay....(Pauses) Matagal pa ba?

I went down to the kitchen with her and we made breakfast together. The driver sent her an sms and told her that he was feeling under the weather and would be unable to drive her to work.

I drove her to work, of course. I'm pretty much her slave today, you know.

She was born in a private hospital in Pasig City 29 years ago on a Monday afternoon.

She is unique and I love her.

* * *

kids should know that...

The melody of "Happy Birthday to You" was written by American sisters Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill in 1893 when they were school teachers in Louisville, Kentucky. The verse was originally intended as a classroom greeting entitled "Good Morning to All". The version as we know it was copyrighted in 1935 by the Summy Company as an arrangement by Preston Ware Orem, and is scheduled to expire in 2030. This was the first known written version to include the lyrics. The company holding the copyright was purchased by Warner Chappell in 1990 for $15 million dollars, with the value of "Happy Birthday" estimated at $5 million. (wikipedia)