This hits right at home for me. Only my girlfriend and mother (who are three days after my own and share my own, respectively) know when my birthday is. I'm uncomfortable with birthdays for a variety of reasons, but the difference between how my birthdays went and how my little sister's went the day before were vast. My father is a pathetic and vile excuse for a human, but in spite of that (or perhaps part of) his interest was solely in his daughter's (relative) happiness. Just the same, I recall getting PMs from people here last year. I don't even remember how people found out. It was nice. Happy birthday.
Now I want to know so I can wish you a happy birthday too. Interested to hear who _refugee_ think is the most curmudgeonly.I don't even remember how people found out.