🎂 My birthday is coming - Jön a születésnapom
I would so much love to have a nice B-Day, at last // Annyira szeretnék végre egy klassz szülinapot
I haven't had a really good birthday in a long time, although I do deserve it, I think.
In recent years, I have spent almost every holiday singing in the street, including Christmas Eve and my birthdays. Yes, in the winter cold. I wrote more about it here:
It has its kind of charm when on the evening of December 24th I see those men and women who are visibly suffering from loneliness and are walking up and down just so they don't have to be alone at home, some of them with tears in their eyes, thanking me for such beautiful songs - it's easy for me: singing is a joy, an uplifting feeling in itself and besides, people are more giving that time of the year.
The singer does her job: she gives comfort and joy to souls wherever she can. Even if your own physical and mental batteries are dead or your feet are frozen.
Singing at Christmas is fine like that, but it's completely different when I sing outside on my birthday.
Every now and then I would make a party out of it, writing this on a board:
“Today is my birthday. Thank you for celebrating with me!”
And many people really take the hint, they say hello, maybe drop in a little more money than they would otherwise. What's more, I also receive flowers, chocolate, or some delicious cookie or even slice of cake in an elegant box.
But a birthday is still a birthday: this is a moment when we have to take stock of ourselves, our destiny, life, where we have come from, where are we, where are we going to, what have we achieved, what are we still aiming for.
So it is far from ideal if a female singer is still singing on the street at my age.
Realizing this stabs me like a sharp knife when I sing like this at the turning point of my life, instead of celebrating with a concert on the big stage, as I should and would love to.
But they say: a person's life consists of seven-year cycles, and each change of phase can bring radical changes. I have just reached the end of my 7 years (well, how old am I?), so a new chapter begins: I really hope that after the past seven years of scarcity, abundance finds me.
That's why I really wish I could spend this birthday in a completely different way. Instead of singing while freezing in the street (which is not the real thing after recovering from a cold or flu), I could do so many good things!
I'll tell you what.
Saturday, January 13: we had a dance rehearsal in Miskolc, for the upcoming 70th anniversary show of the Avas Dance Ensemble. This is what we will be dancing at the gala:
Can you find me in this video? (On the cover picture, I am just opposite)
This time I will be dressed like this (with a white blouse and my sporty hair covered with a scarf), it’s the traditional Hungarian folk costume of a region in Transylvania.
After the rehearsal, we had a party until dawn at the Folk Dancers' Potluck Ball
Sunday, January 14: I was with my mother in Kazincbarcika, the town where I grew up, it’s cloed to Miskolc (in North-East Hungary)
Monday, January 15. MY BIRTHDAY: One thing I would have loved to do is to travel to some other town and do a big photo walk, share the pictures like these onese?
And in the evening, I wouldn't worry about having to sing in the streets of Budapest in zero or minus two degrees, but I would sit in a pastry shop for a slice of cake with a huge mug of tea or coffee, take out my calendar and plan my year, linger with my goals and dreams... And of course, I would be happy for the many, many greetings, and I would try the impossible to thank them one by one.
This is still an option for tonight.
And I can't promise this, but maybe I would even write a poem: not one of my works was born on this day. (You can read three at the end of this post.)
Tuesday, January 16: I would sit in the nice warm library, where I would throw myself full force into bookings, getting gigs. This month is excellent for (re)connecting concert venues, event organizers and pitching my various programs and formations, since many places plan the annual program at this time.
I would also upload the photos and videos of the previous days.
Wednesday, January 17: I would have a bicycle day. It's not like I've gained weight from the big festive binges (I was glad to have something to eat), but the illness has weakened me quite a bit, I need to get back in shape. Let's say, I would go over to the Szentendre Island, maybe even take a short trip to Kisoroszi Szigetcsúcs (Island Tip), to see how big the Danube is.
Although I would probably prefer a shorter tour, so that I can also go to this exhibition opening at Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest.
Thursday, January 18, Friday, 19: "office days" in the library, registration with casting agencies, booking of performances.
There were times when acting in movies, commercials paid my basic bills, so this is one option I have, instead of standing outside in the cold
One day this week, I would go out for a slice of cake or for a dinner with my son, whose birthday is also in these days. He is the best present of my life. ❣️
Saturday, January 20: Avas Dance Ensemble 70, the big anniversary gala, and a party afterwards.
I can't tell you how much it means to me that after 35 years I can dance with this group again, with whom I spent one of the most beautiful periods of my youth!
My dear friend, isn’t this a much better birthday program for a 56-year-old woman, a singer than singing outside in the cold so that she can eat?
I would love this so much!!!
Will you please help me with this?
This is how you can invite me for a slice of birthday cake 🎂🤲 (or contribute so that I can do these things at all)
Thank you very much, this way you will be part of the creative process, and not only me but Karma will love you, too! 😍
Alternative donation options
If a bank transfer and/or a one-time donation is more feasable for you:
IBAN: HU15 16200010-10128396-00000000
SWIFT: HBWEHUHBXXX
Magnet Bank, Gerák Andrea
Bank card:
Cash (Is King):
Email me at andreagerak@substack.com and let’s meet!
Thank you very, very much in advance!!!!!!! ❣️ Andrea
