A day for double celebration

It's the day after Christmas and all the presents have been unwrapped.

Parents are buying stock in Energizer and Duracell batteries, or Apple chargers.

Kids are playing with their new toys or electronics.

Stores are busy helping people who got gifts they pretended to like but couldn't wait to take back and get something better.

People who despise "A Christmas Story" are finding it safe to turn on their televisions again.

And me, well I'm another year older. Yes, I have the joy of having been born on Christmas morning in 1981.

Growing up, I always thought that was awesome because, you see, when you're young, that double presents thing actually happens.

Whenever someone finds out my birthday is on Christmas, they usually respond with "oh that must be horrible."

While that would be the natural assumption, it's not necessarily how I see it.

I've read stories about how people feel like they don't really have a birthday or they get slighted on presents.

Sure, over the years things change and no longer do you distinguish the birthday by celebrating it on Christmas Eve or the week before Christmas.

One year, and I don't even remember this but my family tells me it happened, we tried to celebrate it on my half-birthday, June 25. The only problem with that is my father and aunt were born on June 26, still not really giving me the spotlight.

The gifts change, too. When I first got a job and my own apartment, the birthday gifts became toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates … you get the picture.

And yes, it's hard to find somewhere open to have a drink when you turn 21.

I can't complain, however. Everyone is usually in a decent mood because it's the holidays.

I'll also give credit where credit is due. There were two different styles of wrapping paper, one for Christmas and one for birthday.

Anything I ever asked "Santa" for ended up under the tree, and I was never picky about counting presents to make sure I got the appropriate split of Christmas and birthday gifts. If I wanted something in between those 12 months, I got that, too, without having to wait the full calendar year.

As for my daughter, she also has to share her birthday, albeit with the IRS and not Jesus.

Born on April 15, she provided me with the most loving reminder of the deadline for finishing my taxes.

Now with a daughter of my own, it doesn't take blowing out candles on a cake to make my Christmas special.

Seeing how excited she gets over a new toy, book or stuffed animal, and sometimes just the box those items came in, is the best birthday present I could ever get.