“The Air Force is giving me a new job for my birthday.  How do you feel about Los Angeles?”  Move season brings unique challenges when you have special events to celebrate.  With this two minute phone conversation, my husband announced the news that would turn our world upside down for the summer and disrupt what I have labeled “celebration season” for our family.  Four birthdays, our wedding anniversary, and my favorite holiday fall during “prime move season” and every two to three years, the military helps us “celebrate” with a new “adventure”.

It seems simple enough, but when a celebration occurs in the middle of a move, you must think of and plan for the unexpected and even then, maintain your sense of humor and remember your “reason.”

Our first “celebration move” coincided with my husband’s 24th birthday. New Orleans, Louisiana to Dayton, Ohio.  As it was also our first “military move”, we knew enough to know that we didn’t really know what to expect.  Ever the practical person, my husband had one request for his birthday.  After 8 hours on the road, he simply wanted a steak dinner and a beer.  After a little online research (yes, the internet existed back then, albeit in a smaller capacity), I managed to find a steakhouse within a few miles of our hotel and secured a reservation.  Easy enough, right?!

Exhausted after the long drive, we were grateful that despite the situation, we were able to celebrate “his day” with a relaxing dinner.  We checked into the hotel, drove to the restaurant, and were promptly seated at a table.  Perusing the menu, we found the food options, but the menu lacked one key item.  When we requested a beverage menu, we were promptly informed that we were in a DRY COUNTY. 

After living in New Orleans for 5 years, who would have thought to plan for a tee-totaling town?  Maybe it was the exhaustion or maybe it was simply ironic in an Alanis Morissette way, but my husband and I looked at each other and broke down in hysterical laughter. 

A few years later, when Miranda Lambert released her song “Dry Town”, I can honestly say I felt her lyrics in my soul, but thankfully, we still laugh when we remember that move.

Fast forward a few years and our family once again found ourselves moving during “celebration season.”  This time, it was from Los Angeles, California to Montgomery, Alabama, and for once, it was not my husband’s birthday.  It was our 6 year old, social butterfly, center of attention son’s birthday and he knew EXACTLY what he wanted.  

He wanted a party at Party City and to invite the whole world.  Seriously, Party City and the whole world.  I’ll let that digest a moment.  

Thankfully, we settled on a compromise and the two of us took a trip to Party City to purchase glow sticks and party cups and plates.  While it wasn’t practical to invite the whole world (how would everyone make it to Alabama? Where would they stay?), we invited a few kids from the playground and my husband’s coworkers and their families.  

The beautiful thing about most kids is they just want cupcakes, ice cream and a few friends.  They don’t always have to know each other before they become “best friends”, though. 

Over the years and our many moves, I have learned to not be afraid to host a pop-up party at the local playground or reach out on local community or HOA pages.  It doesn’t have to be elaborate to let your child know that even though their world is rapidly changing, their special day isn’t forgotten. 

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While it’s important to recognize the special days in our lives, it’s not always possible to celebrate on the actual day.  Thankfully over the years, my husband’s practical side has worn off on me and while I will find and plan around Fourth of July fireworks during our moves, I have learned to appreciate Thanksgiving in October and Christmas in July.

This summer, a packing crew will arrive at our home to begin boxing up our household goods on our 22nd wedding anniversary.  Nothing says “I love you” more than watching your remaining family heirlooms find their place in tissue paper and cardboard and trying not to yell at your spouse.  

With the chaos and stress of moving, we both acknowledge that we will not be in the most “loving” mood on our actual anniversary.  Still, we want to celebrate the fact that we made it another year and what a year it was.

Like our wedding day, we want to honor our marriage, though, and not just a single day on the calendar.  

Lucky for us, Florida has amazing beach hotels and rental homes that are cheaper in September… after our move and after prime tourist season. Even though it will be two months after our actual anniversary date, it will be a wonderful celebration of all the years we have journeyed together.

Whether it be down the street, across the county or around the globe, it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of moving.  While the celebration may look and feel different, it is not how or when you celebrate, but that you do.  

As Oprah Winfrey said, “the more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”