At Build-A-Bear we give out birthday stickers and sing Happy Birthday (our own, special way) to guests who come in on their birthdays. Nobody is immune. In fact, today I made a sticker that said, "Gramma Is The Birthday Bear! I'm 83!"
Today I had three darling little girls--there was Birthday Girl, her friend, and her little sister. Birthday Girl was turning 8. I asked her if she'd like the workshop to sing to her and she said that she did. We have an upstairs, and on the landing there's a bit of a counter where you can see the entire 1st floor of the workshop, which is where we sing happy birthdays. So I lead Birthday Girl up there, and Friend says, "Can I come too?" sure! And then little sister who wasn't more than 4 said, "Can I come too?" Sure!
While we're up there, Friend says, "I was here on my birthday and you didn't sing to me."
Me: "Oh I'm sorry! Can we sing to you today?"
Friend: "Yeah!"
Me: "When was your birthday?"
Friend: "April 3rd."
So off we go, singing Happy Birthday to Birthday Girl and Friend. Then Little Sister is jumping up and down.
"Me too! Me too!"
Me: "Would you like us to sing Happy Birthday to you too?"
Little Sister: "Yeah!"
Me: "When is your birthday?"
Little Sister: "Um *screws face into the expression of the thoughtful* I don't know."
Birthday Girl: "I think it's in the summer."
Me: "Close enough--let's sing!"
That's the fun part.
And then there's Build-A-Bear for the geeks.
We usually adorn our birthday stickers with ribbons--3 of them at the bottom. Another Bear Builder was working on cutting the ribbons when one came up and stuck the sticker on another birthday girl. The first Bear Builder came over with the ribbons, and said, "Oh no, we forgot these!" and stuck them on. Then the following conversation ensued.
Mom: "Look Honey, you got some flair!"
Me: "Flair is mandatory."
Mom: "But she doesn't have enough."
Me: "She needs 12 more pieces"
Mom: "At a minimum."
Wheeeeeeeee!
(it's a quote from the movie Office Space, if you're not already tuned in).
Posted by Shelby at May 14, 2007 07:55 PM