Remembering those important days

I will be the first to admit that I am not good at remembering birthdays and other dates of importance. Because I am not good at remembering other people's important dates, I never feel bad if they do not remember mine. In fact I do not allow Facebook to notify anyone on the date of my own birthday because I may not always post on other people's timeline when it is theirs.

I also struggle to take note of when Mother's Day and Father's Day are each year. When I lived on the East Coast I was always mailing my cards out late to my parents. And since I was so far away, all that holiday took from me was dropping a card in the mail and then remembering to call on the specific day. However, now that I am back with my family a card and a phone call doesn't exactly cut it.

The one specific date I am guaranteed to forget each and every year is my parents anniversary.

On Sunday my parents were planning to go into town for lunch, which was unusual for them. I made myself a sandwich and gather together my stuff to run out to go through some stuff at the ranch. My father comes in and invites me to lunch with them, his treat. I was surprised. I thanked him but I had already eaten. He then proceeds to inform me that it is their 45th Wedding Anniversary. The voice in my head went "ooh crap!" I'm standing there, dressed to go get dirty and not at all prepared to go into public. I fumble and apologize. "I suddenly feel like I should go," I told him, really not sure what to do. He said it was really okay, it wasn't my day to remember.

I went on with my own plans but raced over to my sister's house to tell her what a schmuck I am. She, of course, manages to remember every year. She very wisely writes it on her calendar every year. Needless to say I am remembering from now on and should probably start planning their 50th now, so I don't forget.