It’s my husband’s birthday today. Happy 34th birthday, honey!

And here’s a weird thing. It’s also my ex-boyfriend’s birthday. I think I learned once, in an intro psychology class, that 1 in 40 people have the same birthday. Math types have argued with me when I quote this statistic, but when they sit down and do all the calculations, they usually figure out it’s pretty close to accurate. That doesn’t mean if you meet 40 people, one will have your birthday. It just means if you get 40 people together, chances are pretty darn good two of them will share a birthday.

Sharing a birthday with someone gives you an instant connection. I was born on December 25, and anyone who shares that birthday can automatically sympathize with the plight those of us with Christmas birthdays face. If I could choose my birthday, I would choose June 25. That’s six months from Christmas. That way I would get presents at equal intervals. I wouldn’t have to wait all year for December 25th to come around again.

Here’s another thing about birthdays—they affect your life more than you realize. My daughter was born at the end of September, and when I went to enroll her in a little day school program at our church for a day or two a week starting this Fall, I realized she will be the oldest in her class. I also realized she will always be the oldest in her class. I have several friends pregnant and due in early August. Their children will be in the same grade as my little one. How crazy is that? Their babies haven’t even been born yet, while mine is already sitting and eating applesauce and green beans. You can’t tell me that doesn’t translate into some advantage or disadvantage.

Here’s the disadvantage—my daughter will be about 20 days from being 5 when Kindergarten starts, but will she be able to begin Kindergarten? No, she’ll have to wait almost an entire year. But kids who might have turned 5 only 3 days before will start before her. That’s just crazy, I think. But I guess there has to be a cut-off, and no matter when it falls, some kid with some birthday will be on the winning or losing side. And I’m sure it all evens out by second or third grade, anyway.

What do you think about your birthday? Has it been a blessing or a curse? If you could choose your birthday, what day would you choose?