Olivia Mukam-WANDJI: D-Day - 11/11/11 (Bday Superlatives) #11ElevenLive

Many people ask me why I get so hyped about my birthday, why I do a countdown 1month before (Oct. 11th) and why I celebrate it with so much enthusiasm? Many of them say their birthday comes and passes sometimes without a degree of celebration or even recognition. What's the big deal about a birthday anyways!?

I don't know if I can explain a logical reason why I look forward so much to my birthday, and enjoy the celebration of it... It's a feeling I have deep within that I can't explain. Perhaps if I tell you my dad called me 3 times on my birthday (plus wrote me a message), plus proposed that we do a family prayer-chain at 11:11am to strengthen the power of our wishes, you might just have an idea as to why my birthday is so special to me...

I was born this way!

Ever since my birth I've been celebrating my birthday significantly. My parents have always made it a special day (each one of our birthdays: sisters + brothers) in the house.

And today, many might still not understand the why? But even though many of my friend don't understand why I get so elated, they know it means a lot to me, and so they make the best of the day for me. Amadou said it yesterday: " My birthday comes and goes, without much happening", yet all day he tried to make my day special with his brother, mother, girlfriend, and other friends. My other best friend, Sarah in the US, knows too... and her entire family knows too, so they all wrote a message, shot a video, or called to wish me HBD.

To me, this is a powerful example of Love: Sometimes they might not understand or feel what I feel, but because they know it means a lot to me, they show up, and make me feel the love, care and attention. With these, you all are teaching me how to love others better. So I thank you all.

For 11/11/11 which was thrice special because it was the most awaited date of the year in the entire world, It was a Friday, and 3rdly, it was my Birthday.... I told my close friends to pass their messages in video formats. Many weren't able to do it, but those who did really warmed my heart! Thank you to all my video makers... Thank u.

Here's my video to launch the day...

For the rest of the day, you will understand it best through these Bday Superlatives I put together, cause the messages were so many, yet so distinct, interesting, and loveable in their own ways...

Last year I blogged more about the quantity of responses I received, this year I am touched by the quality of each message.

11/11/11 Birthday Superlatives!

First Phone call:

At midnight - My brother Krystian , called 10 minutes before my gurl Fady, from Morrocco. (But I was asleep, so I saw the missed calls in the morning. oups! )

First Text Message:

Felicité Djoukou - ma Feli Feli!

Wake up Call:
Amadou Diaw, at 4am. smh!

Shortest HBD Message:
A Kmer Tweep on Twitter. 2 letters (not even 3, lol. That was funny in its own way) : HB

Longest Birthday message :
Linda Vakunta .... cause she also spoke to me about Afroclectism? An interesting concept...

First "Wow" message :
Kedenard Raymond (in Montreal)... Yes, It's just the beginning gurl... Thank u.

Highest number of communication venue:
i.e. Email, Fb, Tweet, SMS, Phone call .... A good guy! :)

First video submission:
From a good guy too, I won't reveal the identity either.

Best video message (by none-family member):

Funniest Video message:

Philip Andely... il faut vraiment que cette année apporte le bon gars! hahah!

Highest number of Bday calls :

Daddy, lol. 3 times before mid-day. Checking up on me, and how things are evolving :) And a followup call today. Gotta love him!

Most surprising moment:

- My home boy's mom (tata Yacine) gave me a really pleasant gift! :)

- 2 phone calls by 2 people in Cameroon, I didn't expect will ever call me!

Funniest moment:

- After a very late lunch, my friends and I decided to take a nap... but we ended up chilling, and watching some of the funniest photos on fb. Lol-session.

Heartwarming International calls:
(Cuz I know buying a phone card and dialling that 00237 is not easy!)

- From Morocco (Fadiyaaa) Ma chérie coco

- From Holland (Winiiieeebooo) at 11:11am
- From Angola (The network didn't cooperate well,but thank u VJ!!),
- From Naija (Rotimiiiii... I'll make Abuja happen man)

- From the US (My bestest friends - Sarahchooouuu + Audreychoouuu + Zainaboooo + Adedayoboo - (My Koffi Anana) )
- From Spain (Cheskoooooooo :) )
- From South Africa ( Eseme, thank u!)

Best Birthday Present: A book, of course! "How to Change the World : Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas" by David Bornstein.

Most adorable family moment:

- My cousin in Bagangte, getting out of his class to call me at 11o'clock.
- My little brother in Douala giving me a ring around 7pm, but not knowing what else to say, but Happy Birthday! (then I was the one to make the convo, lol)
- My uncle in Douala trying his best to speak in English for 5minutes on the phone, to explain he didn't understand anything I said in my birthday video. lol

Most touching moment :

My friend who just lost his little brother 2 days ago (whom I knew, and who was 24yrs old too) called me at 6:00 am to wish me a great year, but mostly that God may keep using me as his instrument to impact lives. This touched me deeply, cuz at the moment I expected him to be weakest, and self-absorbed (understandably so) by grief, he looked beyond himself and was present. I must say the testimony of leadership and strength beyond all understanding, I have witness in him is impressive and inspiring.

Most elated moment:
Watching the videos made by my sister in Canada - Louna, for whom it was the first video-making of her life. lol.Still very well done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGV6Qoc2hTY

And the one made by my sister in Paris, at the Arc of Triumph, with her husband (Enold Boireau) and a bunch of cool, sweet and crayzy gurls I don't know, but I love! :)

Most grateful moment:

At 5:30am, in my prayers, reflections and meditations on the years that past and what I wish for in the future.

Best best best moments:
I tried to work, but it was impossible... All day I was receiving (practically every 30 seconds) messages & phone calls... I enjoyed reading and responding each one of your messages of support, love, encouragement. Y'all are AMAYZINNNG!

See, that's another reason I love my bday so much, cuz I don't just receive 3 letters (HBD) or 2 words : Happy Birthday. Noh! People really bless me and wish me great things, and I'm so thankful for that. It's an abundance of Love I feel to the core of my bones and the depth of my heart. It really helps to refuel, re-energize, resource myself.

Plus, with the recent passing away of my friend's brother I re-realized the preciousness of life, and how we don't know when is the time, when will be our time to go... so while we are on this earth, I chose to make the best of every day, show up to life and live it fully.

Yes, Live Learn and Love out loud, that's my way to live Freely!!! The only way I want to live.

Thank you again and again, each single one of you, for your thoughts, wishes, words, love.

I love you all very dearly.

Bisous!

(Some photos of D-Day)