Seasons and Birthdays

I never thought that Australia's nickname, Down Under, would touch on everything, including birthdays. If you can't see the link yet, it's because it is a bit hidden behind the seasons. Being on the other side of the planet than Europe and North America is cool, but it comes with reversed seasons. Summer falls between December and February, and winter between June and September. That's right, when you all enjoy a warm spring breeze now in the States, we are adding a layer of clothes, changing shoes for boots, and turning on the heat, not the AC. I think I got used to that, although this change throws up in the air my Christmas menu altogether. December 25 is normally a warm, even hot summer day when we go to the beach and make sand, not snow, angels. We eat a seafood salad and drink some chilled wine. We may surf through waves like Santa through blizzards, but we should seriously consider celebrating Christmas in July, like many Aussies, just so we can enjoy a heavily caloric tasty meal when outside its crisp and grey. Our birthdays switched seasons, too. My July birthday is celebrated now by holding a hot cider with gloved hands. The ice cream birthday cake is now a warm date pudding. After over forty years, it's not "just another change." It's seriously different. Chloe is the lucky one, because now she can have a pool party and Popsicles in the middle of November. The day is long, so her friends can stay late at the party, too. Just think about it. The last thing you imagine changing when you move house is the season on your birthday... (I gave this picture the title "Down under a roof", a metaphor)