I love my birthday. LOVE IT. I have no qualms about celebrating it the entire month of October. Feel no shame in soliciting lavish and extravagant gifts from my family. Suffer zero remorse when declaring it The Most Important Day of the Year every single year. I truly and honestly believe that October 24 is far superior to all the other days on the calendar.

I mean, I care about the traditional holidays and other people’s birthdays, but not as much as my own. Not at all. This year, for example, I am contending for The Worst Wife of the Decade Award by abandoning Ton Ton on Father’s Day and his birthday.

It’s not completely by choice. On Father’s Day weekend, I’m going up to DC for a concert. But it’s not just any concert. It’s Silvio Rodriguez, one of the most amazing Latin American voices of all time, my favorite musician ever, the same one who has been denied a U.S. visa for the past 30 years and was finally approved last month. It’s a dream come true. A once in a lifetime opportunity. And Ton Ton isn’t really a fan, so I’m going to the show with my mom.

On my husband’s birthday, I’m going to be at a conference for work. A legitimate, important, serious gathering of the minds IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA! LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL, BABY! Ahem. I mean, work, work, work. Busy. Busy. Busy.

If Ton Ton ever abandoned me on my birthday, it is likely that the whole ordeal would end up in divorce. Unless the abandonment was part of his plan to throw me off course the giant surprise party he was hosting for me. In Paris. With all my friends. And a special guest appearance by Silvio Rodriguez. Then I guess I could forgive him. Maybe.

In conclusion, Ton Ton is a saint. And I’m a terrible person.

But that’s not really the point I intended to make with this post. You see, even though I can’t stand the thought of there being a more important date than October 24, for the past few weeks I have been preparing for July 2 as if it were the King of the Calendar.

July 2: The day Luki was born.

There’s going to be a party. With a theme. And custom invitations. And special favors. And plenty of food. And I may even try my hand at a craft project for the decor (I just need to figure out how to cut in a straight line first).

Ridiculous, I know. He is turning one, he won’t have any idea of what’s going on. And also? It’s July 2. Not October 24. What is wrong with me?

You could say that motherhood is making me into a more selfless person. That I’m becoming more mature and finally coming to the realization that it’s not all about me. That I love Luki so much, I’m willing to give up The Most Important Day of the Year to him, because July 2, 2009 was The Most Important Day of my Entire Life.

You could say all that.

And I would respond that if July 2 is upping the ante with a themed party and handmade decorations…October 24 better get a trip to Paris. And a special guest appearance by Silvio Rodriguez.

P.S. I wrote some more about Luki’s birthday celebration on Peanut Butter & Guava, my new blog over at the Charlotte Observer.