Well, it’s not exactly, firmly, 100% the beginning of my birthday celebration. There was an incident involving my parents earlier, in which I got a few things that fall, broadly, in the category of “fixtures” from my mom’s store when it closed. In this incident, I was given the choice: pay for them, or let Mom and Dad call them my birthday present. So I have my present from Mom and Dad and have had for a couple of months now.

However, I got the first birthday card of the season in the mail today, and for something utterly unusual, someone beat Grandma to the punch (Grandma almost always strikes first, usually on or about May 4 — 2 days early).

But not this year.

From whom did I receive this card today, six whole days ahead of the actual date, you ask? From my boss. Not anyone I work with daily, not even the dean.

Today, in the mail, I received birthday greetings from the president of the college.

Whaddaya know?