“
It’s my birthday, Horus insisted. Wish me happy birthday!
“Happy birthday!” I yelled. “Now shut up!
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, #1))
“
November 20. Andrius's birthday. I had counted the days carefully. I wished him a happy birthday when I woke and thought about him while hauling logs during the day. At night, I sat by the light of the stove, reading Dombey and Son. Krasivaya. I still hadn't found the word. Maybe I'd find it if I jumped ahead. I flipped through some of the pages. A marking caught my eye. I leafed backward. Something was written in pencil in the margin of 278.
Hello, Lina. You've gotten to page 278. That's pretty good!
I gasped, then pretened I was engrossed in the book. I looked at Andrius's handwritting. I ran my finger over this elongated letters in my name. Were there more? I knew I should read onward. I couldn't wait. I turned though the pages carefully, scanning the margins.
Page 300:
Are you really on page 300 or are you skipping ahead now?
I had to stifle my laughter.
Page 322:
Dombey and Son is boring. Admit it.
Page 364:
I'm thinking of you.
Page 412:
Are you maybe thinking of me?
I closed my eyes.
Yes, I'm thinking of you. Happy birthday, Andrius.
”
”
Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray)
“
People are so lonely, they spend their birthdays on the Internet, thanking people for wishing them a happy birthday, people who only know it’s their birthday because Facebook told them.
”
”
Caroline Kepnes (Hidden Bodies (You, #2))
“
If your Birthday is on Christmas day and you're not Jesus, you should start telling people your birthday is on June 9 or something. Just read up on the traits of a Gemini. Suddenly you're a multitasker who loves the color yellow. Because not only do you get stuck with them combo gift, you get the combo song. "We wish you a merry Christmas - and happy birthday, Terry - we wish you a merry Christmas - happy birthday, Terry - we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Ye - Birthday, Terry!
”
”
Ellen DeGeneres (Seriously... I'm Kidding)
“
The cake had a trick candle that wouldn't go out, so I didn't get my wish. Which was just that it would always be like this, that my life could be a party just for me.
”
”
Janet Fitch (White Oleander)
“
Why this candle?
Why this cake?
The day of my birth
is not today.
I was born
when you said, 'Hey.
”
”
Kamand Kojouri
“
its my birthday wish me happy birthday horus said happy birthday I yelled now shut up
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Red Pyramid Chapter Sneak Peek!)
“
Wish him a happy birthday for me. And assure him it will be his last. But yours is coming, isn’t it? I don’t doubt we’ll spend it together. Until we meet again, Maven
”
”
Victoria Aveyard (Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2))
“
I may not be physically present to stand by you while you cut your cake, but you’ll be in my thoughts today! Happy Birthday.
”
”
Aamir Sarfraz (aamir rajput khan)
“
The disorientation of meeting one’s sagging contemporaries, memories of a younger face crashing into the reality of jowls, under-eye pouches, unexpected lines, and then the terrible realization that one probably looks just as old as they do. Do you remember when we were young and gorgeous? Clark wanted to ask. Do you remember when everything seemed limitless? Do you remember when it seemed impossible that you’d get famous and I’d get a PhD? But instead of saying any of this he wished his friend a happy birthday.
”
”
Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven)
“
No wishing him a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year or Happy Birthday. Not a peep!
”
”
Leslie Braswell (Ignore the Guy, Get the Guy: The Art of No Contact: A Woman's Survival Guide to Mastering a Breakup and Taking Back Her Power)
“
If a magic genie, from a lamp, offered me three wishes, I'd use one to wish you a happy birthday. So 33 percent would be spent in your celebration. I only offer that statistic so you don't think me chintzy when you find this card void of cash.
”
”
Jarod Kintz (This Book is Not for Sale)
“
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU NANAY
I am forever grateful to you, my dearest Nanay,
You are the most precious being in my life.
You have given us, your children so much, raised us, nurtured us and loved us unconditionally..
I can't imagine life without you.
We love you Nanay.
”
”
H.H PRINCESS MARIA AMOR DK1.DD
“
Blessings are waiting, so don't miss the flight
Your Birth Day Gonna be very shiny bright
Look everywhere and adore every single sight
May your BirThDay be filled with chocolates, Cakes & Candle Light
May the happiness hugs you like soo tight
Take me serious, because I am gentle and polite
”
”
sid
“
Many times we search for the perfect words to say as well as the right reasons to stay but never have I doubted you and your ability to make me happy. You care about me, you show me ur undying love and you understand me on levels that I never thought anyone would.
Happy birthday love!
”
”
Hopal Green
“
Congratulations to your mom and dad for birth of a sweet child!
Sorry that I couldn't wish them when you were born.
”
”
Hasil Paudyal
“
The Klassik Man wishes you a happy born-day. May you live long!
~$
”
”
Don Santo
“
Even if you are king of kings, you cannot mourn your death, the only option is to celebrate your birth ... Happy Birthday
”
”
P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar
“
Happy birthday To someone special! And we wish you many more! Once a year We give a cheer To you, Commander Hoff! Happy birthday!
”
”
Suzanne Collins (The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0))
“
I read it twice, then I said, "Well, why don't you?"
"Why don't I what?"
"Why don't you wish her many happy returns? It doesn't seem much to ask."
"But she says on her birthday."
"Well, when is her birthday?"
"Can't you understand?" said Bobbie. "I've forgotten."
"Forgotten!" I said.
"Yes," said Bobbie. "Forgotten."
"How do you mean, forgotten?" I said. "Forgotten whether it's the twentieth or the twenty-first, or what? How near do you get to it?"
"I know it came somewhere between the first of January and the thirty-first of December. That's how near I get to it.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (My Man Jeeves (Jeeves, #1))
“
On my birthday, every year since I turned eighteen, she called me at twelve twenty in the morning to wish me happy birthday and tell me how much joy I brought her. She’d told me she was sorry she couldn’t do it when I turned thirty, and handed me a box filled with little bits of paper. She’d written Happy Birthday to my baby boy on every one. There must have been fifty of them.
”
”
T.A. Webb (Second Chances (Second Chances #1))
“
Pink Balloons
My name is Olivia King
I am five years old
My mother bought me a balloon. I remember the day she walked through the front door with it. The curly hot pink ribbon
trickling
down her arm,
wrapped
around her
wrist
. She was
smiling
at me as she
untied
the ribbon and wrapped it around my hand.
"Here Livie, I bought this for you."
She called me Livie.
I was so
happy
. I'd
never
had a
balloon
before. I mean, I always saw balloon wrapped around
other
kids wrist in the parking lot of
Wal-Mart
, but I never
dreamed
I would have my very
own.
My
very own
pink balloon.
I was
excited!
So
ecstatic!
So
thrilled!
i couldn't
believe
my mother bought me something! She'd
never
bought me
anything
before! I played with it for
hours
. It was full of
helium
and it
danced
and
swayed
and
floated
as I
drug
it around from
room
to
room
with me, thinking of places to take it. Thinking of places the balloon had
never
been before. I took it in the
bathroom
, the
closet
, the
laundry room
, the
kitchen
, the
living room
. I wanted my new best friend to see
everything
I saw! I took it to my mother's
bedroom!
My mothers
Bedroom?
Where I wasn't supposed to be?
With my pink
balloon...
I
covered
my ears as she
screamed
at me,
wiping
the
evidence
off her
nose!
She
slapped
me across the face as she told me how
bad
I was! How much I
misbehaved!
How I never
listened!
She
shoved
me into the hallways and
slammed
the door, locking my pink balloon inside with her. I wanted him
back!
He was
my
best friend!
Not her!
The pink ribbon was
still
tied around my
wrist
so I
pulled
and
pulled
, trying to get my new best friend
away
from her.
And
it
popped.
My name is Eddie.
I'm seventeen years old.
My birthday is next week. I'll be big One-Eight. My foster dad is buying me these boots I've been wanting. I'm sure my friends will take me out to eat. My boyfriend will buy me a gift, maybe even take me to a movie. I'll even get a nice little card from my foster care worker, wishing me a happy eighteenth birthday, informing me I've aged out of the system.
I'll have a good time. I know I will.
But there's
one
thing I know
for
sure
I better not get any
shitty ass pink balloons!
”
”
Colleen Hoover (Slammed (Slammed, #1))
“
MOTHER LOVE IS THE FUEL THAT ENABLES A NORMAL HUMAN BEING TO DO IMPOSSIBLE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM
”
”
Bestwishesandquotes.com
“
I wish you many congratulations on your birthday.
”
”
Oscar Auliq-Ice
“
A Happy Day!.......Wishes of Riches, Songs of Love, Waters of Happiness, Life of Purpose, Doses of Success, & Days of Prosperity. Happy Birthday To You The Fan of Success.
”
”
Ekeh Joe Obinna
“
Those who were busy to wish you a Happy Birthday
Will be Less busy to wish you Rest In Peace.
We cherished the Dead than the Living.
”
”
ROBERT AMOANI
“
I feel so lucky to have you as my friend. Hope your birthday is as special as you are.May all of your dreams come true. Thanks for being such a great friend. Happy birthday!
”
”
Ahsan Seehar
“
Unexpected situations cause separation; however, the memories of life always remain in mind; I loved you, and it stays forever.
Happy Birthday with best wishes.
”
”
Ehsan Sehgal
“
right here—right now—I don’t want to be anywhere else. I wish I could die as happy as I am right now. In here, in the dead of night, in this dark room, behind a closed door, we don’t need to explain anything to anyone.
”
”
Penelope Douglas (Birthday Girl)
“
Birthday is a day which make you realize of your existences with all love and bless from known and unknown .. It remind me the old days of school, even the unknown WISHEs you A VEry Happy Birthday :) So enjoy the uTmost :D
”
”
Simran Shah Khan
“
This is the first birthday I've had without the person who's responsible for bringing me into the world all those decades ago. My mother... Because it was her desire to be the first to wish me a happy birthday, I always got a 5:30am phone call from her. I'm an early riser, but not that early. Yet even when my birthday fell on a Saturday, or Sunday, I loved getting that call. There are so many things you miss about a loving mother, especially on the first birthday you have without her.
”
”
Lorna Landvik (Chronicles of a Radical Hag)
“
Dear Hilde,
I assume you're still celebrating your 15th birthday. Or is it the morning after? Anyways, it makes no difference to your present. In a sense, that will last a life time. But I'd like to wish you happy birthday one more time. Perhaps you understand now why I send the cards to Sophie. I am sure she will pass them on to you.
P.S. Mom said you lost your wallet. I hereby promise to reimburse you the 150 crowns. You will probably be able to get another school I.D. before they close for the summer vacation.
Love from Dad.
”
”
Jostein Gaarder (Sophie’s World)
“
YOU’RE FORGETTING SOMETHING, Horus told me. A little busy here! I thought back. You might think it’s easy steering a magic boat through the sky. You’d be wrong. I didn’t have Amos’s animated coat, so I stood in the back trying to shift the tiller myself, which was like stirring cement. I couldn’t see where we were going. We kept tilting back and forth while Sadie tried her best to keep an unconscious Zia from flopping over the side. It’s my birthday, Horus insisted. Wish me happy birthday! “Happy birthday!” I yelled. “Now, shut up!
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles, #1))
“
Do you remember when we were young and gorgeous? Clark wanted to ask. Do you remember when everything seemed limitless? Do you remember when it seemed impossible that you’d get famous and I’d get a PhD? But instead of saying any of this he wished his friend a happy birthday.
”
”
Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven)
“
Many times we search for the perfect words to say as well as the right reasons to stay but never have I doubted you and your ability to make me happy. You care about me, you show me your undying love and you understand me on levels that I never thought anyone would.
Happy birthday love!
”
”
Hopal Green
“
Hey.’ Annabeth slid next to me on the bench. ‘Happy birthday.’ She was holding a huge misshapen cupcake with blue icing. I stared at her.
‘What?’
‘It’s August eighteenth,’ she said. ‘Your birthday, right?’
I was stunned. It hadn’t even occurred to me, but she was right. I had turned sixteen this morning – the same morning I’d made the choice to give Luke the knife. The prophecy had come true right on schedule, and I hadn’t even thought about the fact that it was my birthday. ‘Make a wish,’ she said.
‘Did you bake this yourself?’ I asked.
‘Tyson helped.’
‘That explains why it looks like a chocolate brick,’ I said. ‘With extra-blue cement.’
Annabeth laughed. I thought for a second then blew out the candle. We cut it in half and shared, eating with our fingers. Annabeth sat next to me and we watched the ocean. Crickets and monsters were making noise in the woods, but otherwise it was quiet.
‘You saved the world,’ she said.
‘We saved the world.’
‘And Rachel is the new Oracle, which means she won’t be dating anybody.’
‘You don’t sound disappointed,’ I noticed.
Annabeth shrugged. ‘Oh, I don’t care.’
‘Uh-huh.’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?’
‘You’d probably kick my butt.’
‘You know I’d kick your butt.’
I brushed the cake off my hands. ‘When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable … Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal.’
Annabeth kept her eyes on the horizon. ‘Yeah?’
‘Then up on Olympus,’ I said, ‘when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking –’
‘Oh, you so wanted to.’
‘Well, maybe a little. But I didn’t, because I thought – I didn’t want things to stay the same for eternity, because things could always get better. And I was thinking …’ My throat felt really dry.
‘Anyone in particular?’ Annabeth asked, her voice soft. I looked over and saw that she was trying not to smile.
‘You’re laughing at me,’ I complained.
‘I am not!’
‘You are so not making this easy.’
Then she laughed for real, and she put her hands around my neck. ‘I am never, ever going to make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it.’ When she kissed me, I had the feeling my brain was melting right through my body.
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5))
“
To my special grandson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Celebrate your 13th birthday with joy and appreciation for your interesting stage of life. May God hide you under His wings. May He go before you. May He stand beside you. May He walk behind you. May He give you wisdom to excel and innovate in life forever and ever amen. Enjoy your teenage life and enjoy the blessing of grace. Grandma loves you so much.
”
”
Euginia Herlihy
“
The road to spiritual growth remains long and ever-changing, especially when it comes to the subtle ways we tend to learn, forgive, or select in the ebb and flow of life. But the experiences already lived and those years that seem to accumulate give us wisdom. I wish you a wonderful life ahead and remember that one more year of life is just additional empowerment that embraces us with the power and determination that will inspire us to do better while becoming it.
”
”
Efrat Cybulkiewicz
“
Happy Birthday to my first born(umafungashe wam). No words can fully describe the way I felt when I heard your first cry. The unforgettable joy I felt when I held you in my arms for the first time. I've watched you grow up from the time you were little until you become this compassionate, kind and thoughtful young man. I'm also proud to see you become an amazing husband, father and a great servant of God. I'm blessed beyond to call myself your mom. Happy Birthday son.❤️❤️
”
”
Euginia Herlihy
“
Zenosyne.
It's actually just after you're born that life flashes before your eyes.
Entire aeons are lived in those first few months when you feel inseparable from the world itself, with nothing to do but watch it passing by.
At first, time is only felt vicariously, as something that happens to other people. You get used to living in the moment, because there's nowhere else to go. But soon enough, life begins to move, and you learn to move with it. And you take it for granted that you're a different person every year,
Upgraded with a different body...a different future. You run around so fast, the world around you seems to stand still. Until a summer vacation can stretch on for an eternity.
You feel time moving forward, learning its rhythm, but now and then it skips a beat, as if your birthday arrives one day earlier every year.
We should consider the idea that youth is not actually wasted on the young. That their dramas are no more grand than they should be. That their emotions make perfect sense, once you adjust for inflation. For someone going through adolescence, life feels epic and tragic simply because it is: every kink in your day could easily warp the arc of your story. Because each year is worth a little less than the last. And with each birthday we circle back, and cross the same point around the sun. We wish each other many happy returns.
But soon you feel the circle begin to tighten, and you realize it's a spiral, and you're already halfway through. As more of your day repeats itself, you begin to cast off deadweight, and feel the steady pull toward your center of gravity, the ballast of memories you hold onto, until it all seems to move under its own inertia. So even when you sit still, it feels like you're running somewhere. And even if tomorrow you will run a little faster, and stretch your arms a little farther, you'll still feel the seconds slipping away as you drift around the bend.
Life is short. And life is long. But not in that order.
”
”
Sébastien Japrisot
“
A day of listening.
In this really packed world, our considerations, activities and even dreams are encircled by a ton of voices that we frequently don't get a possibility, nor do we understand that our own voice is unheard from long. On this birthday quiet every one of the voices aside from the voice of your own heart, when you do that, you don't feel diverted and you fill your day with stuff you wish to do, be it dancing, singing, voyaging, reading, sleeping, eating, assuming it is flawed, let it be. In the event that it is moronic, let it be. Wish you a totally Self Absorbed Celebration. Happy Birthday !!!
”
”
Manish Kejriwal
“
Happy birthday,” he whispered, his breath landing warm and suddenly close to my lips, making my insides flip. And just as quickly as he’d surprised me with the cake, he kissed me, one frosting-covered hand moving from my hair to the back of my neck, the other solid and warm in the small of my back, pressing us together, my chest against his ribs, my hip bones just below his, the tops of our bare summer legs hot and touching. I stopped breathing. My eyes were closed and his mouth tasted like marzipan flowers and clove cigarettes, and in ten seconds the whole of my life was wrapped up in that one kiss, that one wish, that one secret that would forever divide my life into two parts.
Up, down. Happy, sad. Shock, awe. Before, after.
In that single moment, Matt, formerly known as friend, became something else entirely.
I kissed him back. I forgot time. I forgot my feet. I forgot the people outside, waiting for us to rejoin the party. I forgot what happens when friends cross into this space. And if my lungs didn’t fill and my heart didn’t beat and my blood didn’t pump without my intervention, I would have forgotten about them, too.
I could have stayed like that all night, standing in front of the sink, Matt’s black apple hair brushing my cheeks, heart thumping, lucky and forgetful…
”
”
Sarah Ockler (Twenty Boy Summer)
“
To Their Most Royal Majesties, the King and Queen of Ravka:
It is with a sad heart that I must proffer my regrets and inform you that I will be unable to attend the festivities celebrating the birth of Prince Nikolai Lantsov, Grand Duke of Udova.
Unfortunate circumstances have arisen, namely that my best friend can’t seem to stand the sight of me, and your son didn’t kiss me, and I wish he had. Or I wish he hadn’t. Or I’m still not sure what I wish, but there’s a very good chance that if I’m forced to sit through his stupid birthday dinner, I’ll end up sobbing into my cake.
With best wishes on this most happy of occasions,
Alina Starkov, Idiot
”
”
Leigh Bardugo (Siege and Storm (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #2))
“
TO MY BELOVED,
Its neither a piece of paper nor a letter, rather it's my small heart which I'm gifting it to you darling.It seems time stood still without ur presence around me. My days and nights have gone worthless. All my heart could do is to recall the memories of time which we have spend together. My heart gets rejoiced whenever your beautiful face comes before my eyes. Your mesmerizing eyes drive me to another world. Your flowing hair looks tantalizing and your rosy lips seems to be meant only for saying lovely words.
While having a cup of coffee yesterday, numerous moments striked my heart. Our first meeting, when you were looking like a fairy in white salwar-suit. Still fresh in my mind, your pretty smile and bowing your head down to laugh with your hand on your lips. I confess that your every action was stealing my heart and I couldn't withdraw myself from lookig you.
The gift you presented me on my birthday gives me a sigh of relief that you are always there with me. Sweetheart, In the classroom, I cracked useless jokes and PJ's just to see your charming smile. Kept gazing your lips, just to heat some golden words. You had stolen my heart.
Dedicated '' I don't know when and how you arrived in my life,
Don't know when my heart star beating for you, day n night....
My eyes kept staring the window pane,
Wishing one day u'll come in my lane....
Darling you're the only one whom I admire,
It's you whom my heart desperately desires...
Being with you is my only need,
You are now the medicine of my heartbeat...
I Craved your name on my heart,
The day when I decided not to loose you ever,
And I promise you sweetheart that,
I love you & i'll love you for ever, ever n ever......
It's true my baby that, i love you like anything. Miss you from very morning 2 the night. MY senses are active to feel you, to hear you, to see you, to taste every sorrow and happiness of your life. Jaana, get embedded in me, in my soul so that i can live with you, for you........
Dying to have your reply.....
Truly Your's
PK
”
”
Prabhat Kumar
“
Happy birthday, Kya,” he said. “You’re fifteen.” A two-tiered bakery cake, tall as a hatbox and decorated with shells of pink icing, rose from the basket. Her name scripted on top. Presents, wrapped in colorful paper and tied with bows, surrounded the cake. She stared, flabbergasted, her mouth open. No one had wished her happy birthday since Ma left. No one had ever given her a store-bought cake with her name on it. She’d never had presents in real wrapping paper with ribbons. “How’d you know my birthday?” Having no calendar, she had no idea it was today. “I read it in your Bible.” While she pleaded for him not to cut through her name, he sliced enormous pieces of cake and plopped them on paper plates. Staring into each other’s eyes, they broke off bites and stuffed them in their mouths. Smacking loudly. Licking fingers. Laughing through icing-smeared grins. Eating cake the way it should be eaten, the way everybody wants to eat it.
”
”
Delia Owens (Where the Crawdads Sing)
“
Can I get a regular skim cap?” I didn’t get coffee here every day—because I had my coffee machine, or used to have—how depressing—but I visited regularly enough that they knew me. Sometimes I wanted something frothy with chocolate on the top, and I was too lazy to do that at home. Frances was in her mid-thirties, had gorgeous straight blonde hair, which was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and an infectious smile. “Hey, chicky. Coming right up. A little birdie told me it was your birthday yesterday. Happy birthday!” She banged used coffee grounds out of the thingamajig and filled it with new ones. “Aw, thanks. Did you run into the girls last night?” The girls being my besties, Sophie and Michelle. “Yep. How come you weren’t there? They told me you piked.” She screwed the thingamajig into the machine and pressed the button. And wouldn’t you know, it worked. I wish my machine still worked. “Big day photographing a wedding. One drink and I would have fallen asleep.” I laughed—it wasn’t too far from the truth. So what if I left out the bit where I had a pity party because my brother hadn’t called. I’d try calling him later. Knowing him, he had a good
”
”
Dionne Lister (Witchnapped in Westerham (Paranormal Investigation Bureau, #1))
“
Besides," he said, "I had another reason for coming, one that will delight you, I believe, as you have been pestering me for years. I wanted you to meet Miss Goddard, the lady I plan one day soon, when the setting and the atmosphere are quite perfect, to ask to marry me. It is time, you see, to do that most dreaded of all things to men, though suddenly it does not seem so dreadful after all. Indeed, it seems infinitely desirable. It is time to settle down."
He smiled sleepily at Eunice, who gazed briefly and reproachfully back at him, eyebrows raised, her cheeks pink, before wishing his mother a happy birthday.
”
”
Mary Balogh (The Secret Mistress (Mistress Trilogy, #3))
“
Happy Birthday to my youngest and the only daughter, may God bless you with long life and the desires of your heart. Happy Birthday my darling Brigid. Mummy loves you.
”
”
Euginia Herlihy
“
Excusing myself to the restroom, I decide Coal could use a little fun in his life.
Returning to the table, I’m nervous, thinking he may not like my surprise after all. Before I can think of a way to back out, though, the waitress comes out with two more following her and a whole pecan pie lit up with candles burning. Approaching our table, they begin to sing as Ice, Hammer, Coal, Des, and Morgan all look around in surprise.
They sit the pie in front of Coal who looks wide-eyed. I give his thigh a squeeze, and his eyes meet mine.
“Happy birthday,” I say barely above a whisper. “Today is your new day.”
He smiles. A real, genuine smile crosses his face before a laugh escapes.
“Pixie, what the fuck am I supposed to do with you?”
I shrug. “Make a wish.”
Coal laughs again, and I feel an invisible weight lift off my shoulders.
When the waitresses leave, Hammer is the first to comment. “You two have obviously learned the art of silent communication.”
“Ethan,” Des interrupts him.
“What? They shared a look, and suddenly, Coal knows she got him good and laughed. Coal never fuckin’ laughs. They obviously got something goin’ on.”
“Drop it,” Coal tells Hammer, and they share a look.
Then I lick my lips and lean into him. Surprising even myself, I press my lips against his. With a slight opening, I slide my tongue in.
Coal’s hands cup either side of my face as he takes control. He’s gentle in a way I didn’t imagine would come from a large man like him.
Just when I think we will untangle ourselves from each other, we are somehow in deeper than before.
”
”
Chelsea Camaron (Coal (Regulators MC, #3))
“
I should probably head back for Luca’s birthday dinner. They want me to lead the ‘Happy Birthday’ song to him in English for some reason.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, it’s getting late.” He lets go of my hand and reaches for his T-shirt.
I watch his abs disappear, then pull my tank top over my head. “I’m sure you could come if you want.”
He frowns. “Won’t Bruno be there?”
“It’s his brother, he’d better be.”
“Uh, I’ll pass.”
I grab his shirt near the hem and tug him toward me. “Even though I’ll be there?” I bat my eyelashes intentionally fast.
“Tempting.” He leans in for a kiss, letting it linger. “But I can’t crash a birthday party for a kid I’ve never met. And I don’t feel much like getting into a fight with a ripped-up Italian tonight. You go ahead, have fun. I’ll see you in the morning, right? Before I leave?”
“That,” I say, pecking his lips again, “is a necessity.
”
”
Kristin Rae (Wish You Were Italian (If Only . . . #2))
“
Dearest brother, you are an idiot. Sometimes you make me puke. I’ll be in training by the time you read this and I wish you were doing it instead of me. PS Happy thirteenth birthday, I love U.
”
”
Robert Muchamore (Class A (Cherub, #2))
“
Unexpected situations cause separation; however, the memories of life always remain in one's mind; I loved you, and it will stay forever.
Happy Birthday with best wishes.
”
”
Ehsan Sehgal
“
The cake had two candles on it, a 1 and a 9. 19. I blew out the 1 and wished for all memories of Reed Callaway to disappear from my brain. I blew out the 9 and wished for Reed Callaway to text me happy birthday. Neither wish came true.
”
”
Tessa D'Errico (No Coincidences (Campus Crush Trilogy Book 1))
“
Dear memories, when I met you for the first time I never thought you will die with me, Happy Birthday.
”
”
P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar
“
Happy Birthday young man, I can’t believe that you are 14 years old my darling grandson. May God bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine upon you. May He walk before you, besides you and behind all the days of your life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and have a great one.
”
”
Euginia Herlihy
“
After years of exchanging memes, texting life updates, wishing each other happy birthday, saying ghoulishly adult things like We should catch up sometime.
”
”
Sarah Thankam Mathews (All This Could Be Different)
“
Missus doctor suspects us of good health
we’re easy to recognize
dressed in our work uniforms.
those fellas are security guards. if you give them
something to guard they think themselves gods.
she wants to see if we have all we need
or maybe something extra. who knows. where we
split and we aren’t whole anymore
she puts all sorts of questions to our electric hearts
as if she’d like to know honest to God
what came over us
and our steaming women pass by
smelling of homemade cozonac
for the regular checkups she surely has
a huge comb to groom us
and she’s left with a handful of our hair
she braids it into blonde pigtails flower-power.
we’re served bloody rare steaks
we’re so sluggish and feel so good we crack up
when we slip off the slanted table
because we’re so sloshed. but missus doctor
takes care we don’t spill she puts a
cap on each of us and wishes us happy birthday.
(translated by Diana Manole)
”
”
Emil Iulian Sude (Paznic de noapte)
“
When I turn eight, I don’t get any birthday cards or a cake like the other kids in the orphanage—I sit under the bed with a drawing of my spider and imagine a crowd of people singing happy birthday to me, and we blow out candles that I draw. I close my eyes and make a wish. I wish someone would choose me.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Little Liar (The Web of Silence Duet, #2))
“
Of the tendency, Angus said, of things to get better Dogs and the optimistic are usually convinced; Others, perhaps, are more cautious: When I was your age I remember Thinking that most of life’s problems Would be over by the next day; I still think that, I suppose, And am often pleasantly surprised To discover that it is occasionally true; Thinking something, you see, Can make it happen, or so we believe, Though how that works, I doubt If I shall ever find out. From your perspective, where you are Is probably the only place It is possible to be; some time soon You will discover that we can, if lucky, Decide who we shall become. A word of warning here: Of all the tempting roles You will be offered, being yourself Is unquestionably the safest, Will bring the most applause Will make you feel best; Greasepaint, dear Bertie, is greasy: Leave it to the actors; The most comfortable face to wear, You’ll find, is your own. So what do I wish for you? Freedom? I imagine You know all about that Even if so far you’ve had To contemplate it from a distance. I could think of other things; I might wish, for example, That you should be whatever You fervently want to be: a sailor, A fireman, an explorer? You may live, you know, To seventy-seven and beyond: What, I wonder, will Scotland Be like seven decades from now? I’ll never know, but what I wish Is that some of it will be left for you, Some of the things we’ve loved. Happy birthday, then, Bertie: Be strong, be thoughtful; Don’t be afraid to cry, when necessary: In operas, as in life, it is the strong Who are always the first to weep. Be kind, which you already are, Even to those who deserve it least; Kindness, you see, Bertie, is a sort of love, That is something I have learned, And you’ll learn too if you listen To the teacher we all should trust: The human heart, my dear, the human heart, Where kindness makes its home.
”
”
Alexander McCall Smith (Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers)
“
Wish You Merry Christmas
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you, dear Jesus.
Today we celebrate for a cause.
We give you the birthday applause.
- Everytime we pray for ourselves.
Today we pray for the needy and poor.
They always will be our near and dear.
- You took our pain and heal us.
We take your message and heal others.
- That we will serve for your kingdom.
You give your deep love and wisdom.
- We will not let go waste the blessings you shower.
We will multiply your love like fragrance of flower.
Wish you all merry Christmas and happy new year.
Let Jesus enlighten us all and take away our fear
”
”
Ramesh Kavdia
“
Happy Birthday 生日快乐 I wish you good health and happiness in life Today and always……. 祝你身体健康,生活快乐 今天直到永远。。。。。。
”
”
Hongyang (Chinese Phrases for Greeting Cards)
“
Good Daily Habits Work Week Checklist (Sample Items) I read industry-related material a half-hour today. I ran 30 minutes today. I completed 80% of my to-do list today. I called at least one prospect today. I did not waste time on the Internet today. I said “DO IT NOW” when I did not want to do something today. I stopped myself from saying something sarcastic today. I stopped myself from saying something inappropriate today. I stopped myself from talking today when I realized I was talking too much. I ate no more than 2,000 calories today. I limited myself to two beers today. I left the office after 6 p.m. today. I called one person today, just to say hello. I called someone today to wish him or her a happy birthday.
”
”
Thomas C. Corley (Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals)
“
probably never said I love you to another human being . . . How could Kate have said that? And then not called to apologize . . . or to say hello . . . or even to wish her a happy birthday?
”
”
Kristin Hannah (Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane #1))
“
My grand baby is growing so fast, I can't believe she's already celebrating her first birthday in this month of October 2016. Happy Birthday Norah Grace, grandma loves you.
”
”
Euginia Herlihy
“
My Philosophy as I wish my beautiful daughter a Very Happy Birthday, I hope your day is as beautiful as you are.
The magical miracles of Life are all about tap dancing on the pages of your own story book.
Within each one of our story books are chapters of the mystery and adventures of all the stages of our life. Well on May of 1997, not only did a new chapter begin in my story book. A sequel was created. I was blessed with the gift of motherhood and from that moment on it was not just about my story anymore. It was about hers. It was about my story branching off into hers. It was all about giving her the love and tools to create a healthy foundation for her storybook. Well, I pray every day that I did a great job giving her all the love and tools to dance as she embraces all the mysteries and adventures life throws at her. Here's to 100 ♾️more and beyond Happy Birthday my daughter !!!!!!!!!!!!!
(c)By Bonnie Zackson Koury
”
”
Bonnie Zackson Koury,
“
On May 1st, 1994, a woman wished me happy birthday. I'll remember her all my life for that greeting. If memory is also a tin, I hope it never expires. If it does, I hope it's in 10,000 years.
”
”
Chungking Express
“
I didn't expect this day was like this. I should be there with u now but I can't n just d thing I can only do is praying god to keep u happy n healthy my love. Every year, I used to wish u a happy birthday at 12 am. But, I lost that chance today. Anyways I wish my sweet heart always be active like deer, lovable like dog, cute like our babies, clever like fox, daring like lion, pure like dove, handsome like harry potter, creative like dolphin, romantic like love birds, being with me like my heart. Ur gonna be such responsible n challenging husband in our life. I wish all the happiness, joy n love to u. We will travel with what we face struggles or sufferings whatever it may be, But only together I promise u. This promise is d the only one gift I can give u many more times throughout our life my dear platinum. Finally, my words are waiting to wish u a many more happy returns of the day
”
”
Renu
“
Many of the militants who come to PAIMAN grew up in families or communities where they felt ignored. Many have never been hugged or been wished a happy birthday. “We sit with them,” offers Mehmood. “Never have their parents sat with them.
”
”
Carla Power (Home, Land, Security: Deradicalization and the Journey Back from Extremism)
“
Those who were busy to wish you a Happy Birthday
Will be Less busy to wish you Rest In Peace. We cherished the Dead the the Living.
”
”
ROBERT AMOANI
“
With scientific knowledge, humans have created both life-saving vaccines and body-obliterating atomic bombs. With what we know about human psychology, we have healed one another's wounds and exploited one another's weaknesses. With advances in technology, we can both wish our great-aunt a happy birthday from thousands of miles away and call someone we've never met a "bed-wetting feminazi" on Twitter. Even our knowledge of Scripture has been used to advance righteous and noble causes as well as to justify all sorts of violence, oppression, and exclusion.
”
”
Rachel Held Evans (Wholehearted Faith)
“
Miss Clara, who wished me many happy returns but unfortunately would be unable to attend my birthday dinner.
”
”
Carlos Ruiz Zafón (The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1))
“
He grinned at me over the giant tiered cake in his arms- over the twenty-one sparkling candles lighting up his face.
Cassian clapped me on the shoulder. 'You thought you could sneak it past us, didn't you?'
I groaned. 'You're all insufferable.'
Elain floated to my side. 'Happy birthday, Feyre.'
My friends- my family- echoed the words as Rhys set the cake on the low-lying table before the fire. I glanced toward my sister. 'Did you...?'
A nod from Elain. 'Nuala did the decorating, though.'
It was then that I realised what the three different tiers had been painted to look like.
On the top: flowers. In the middle: flames.
And on the bottom, widest layer... stars.
The same design of the chest of drawers I'd once painted in that dilapidated cottage. One for each of us- each sister. Those stars and moons sent to me, my mind, by my mate, long before we'd ever met.
'I asked Nuala to do it in that order,' Elain said as the others gathered round. 'Because you're the foundation, the one who lifts us. You always have been.'
My throat tightened unbearably, and I squeezed her hand in answer.
Mor, Cauldron bless her, shouted, 'Make a wish and let us get to the presents!
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.5))
“
A cupcake?” Luke asked, his tone amused. “For your birthday?”
Julie smiled softly.
“It’s for both of us. It’s a memory.”
She wished she could explain all of the multiple ways that was true. But he seemed pretty happy with it anyway, tracing the outline gently with one finger before looking back up to give her one of those signature Luke smiles.
“Happy Birthday, Julie.”
And against all odds...it had been.
”
”
ICanSpellConfusionWithAK (We Found Wonderland)
“
Notice the people who celebrate your achievements, wish you a happy birthday, get excited about your goals and encourage you to do better without losing your sense of self.
Those are the people worth keeping around.
”
”
Vex King (Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness)
“
My name is Olivia King I am five years old. My mother bought me a balloon. I remember the day she walked through the front door with it. The curly hot-pink ribbon trickling down her arm, wrapped around her wrist. She was smiling at me as she untied the ribbon and wrapped it around my hand. “Here, Livie, I bought this for you.” She called me Livie. I was so happy. I’d never had a balloon before. I mean, I always saw balloons wrapped around other kids’ wrists in the parking lot of Walmart, but I never dreamed I would have my very own. My very own pink balloon. I was so excited! So ecstatic! So thrilled! I couldn’t believe my mother bought me something! She’d never bought me anything before! I played with it for hours. It was full of helium, and it danced and swayed and floated as I pulled it around from room to room with me, thinking of places to take it. Thinking of places the balloon had never been before. I took it into the bathroom, the closet, the laundry room, the kitchen, the living room. I wanted my new best friend to see everything I saw! I took it to my mother’s bedroom! My mother’s Bedroom? Where I wasn’t supposed to be? With my pink balloon… I covered my ears as she screamed at me, wiping the evidence off of her nose. She slapped me across the face and reminded me of how bad I was! How much I misbehaved! How I never listened! She shoved me into the hallway and slammed the door, locking my pink balloon inside with her. I wanted him back! He was my best friend! Not hers! The pink ribbon was still tied around my wrist so I pulled and pulled, trying to get my new best friend away from her. And it popped. My name is Eddie. I’m seventeen years old. My birthday is next week. I’ll be the big One-Eight. My foster dad is buying me these boots I’ve been wanting. I’m sure my friends will take me out to eat. My boyfriend will buy me a gift, maybe even take me to a movie. I’ll even get a nice little card from my foster-care worker, wishing me a happy eighteenth birthday, informing me I’ve aged out of the system. I’ll have a good time. I know I will. But there’s one thing I know for sure. I better not get any shitty-ass pink balloons!
”
”
Colleen Hoover (Slammed (Slammed, #1))
“
When my firstborn turned six months old, I decided that this milestone was definitely worth celebrating. And what started as a one-off event quickly became a family tradition: For my kids' half birthdays I make half a cake (it looks like someone just cut a cake down the middle and made the other half disappear), and we sing every other syllable of the "Happy Birthday" song (I'm really good at complicating things, and singing only the first half of the song seemed unfair to the second half). We don't do gifts or a big bash, and we don't blow out candles and make wishes, because wishes should be made only full throttle. We just end the day with a little celebration after dinner, something kind of silly and fun. And cake. Because everything in life should end with sugar.
”
”
Kristina Kuzmic (Hold On, But Don't Hold Still)
“
I THOUGHT OF YOU AS A RATIONAL PERSON AND THEN YOU WISHED ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!?
”
”
Vineet Raj Kapoor
“
The Eight Myths of Hanukah 1. Hanukah is the Jewish Christmas. False. How many times have I been asked, “Is Hanukah the Jewish Christmas?” Let me set the record straight. Christmas is the Jewish Christmas. Mary and Joseph were Jewish, Jesus was Jewish, and at least one of the Wise Men was Jewish — the one that brought the fur. 2. Hanukah is the holiest of Jewish holidays. False. Hanukah isn’t even a religious holiday. The holiest of Jewish holidays is April 24, Barbra Streisand’s birthday. The second holiest Jewish holiday is December 29, the wedding anniversary of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. 3. Hanukah is another Jewish holiday where they tried to kill us, they didn’t, so we eat. True. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the second century BCE, which brings us to ... 4. Hanukah commemorates the miracle that one day’s worth of oil lasted eight days in the Holy Temple. True. But, this is hardly a miracle because I witnessed my grandmother doing the same thing with one tea bag. 5. During Hanukah, children get a gift every night for eight days. False. If you grew up in my house, you got a gift the first night, then for seven nights, you heard about how awful it was to grow up during The Great Depression. The ritual of gift giving is actually very American, since Jewish children in this country are totally exposed to Christmas customs. 6. Hanukah is a holiday when Jewish people eat bland, colorless foods that are fried in oil and difficult to digest. True for ALL Jewish holidays. On Hanukah, we eat latkes (potato pancakes) or sufganiot, if you are Sephardic. Sufganiot are similar to jelly donuts. I am part Sephardic, so I like donuts, just not jelly ones. 7. There are many popular songs about Hanukah, and Jewish people know the words to all of them. False. Other than “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel,” there are no other Hanukah songs we can sing, except for “The Hanukah Song,” by Adam Sandler, which brings us to Number 8 ... 8. Steve & Eydie and Barbra Streisand have recorded Hanukah albums. SO NOT TRUE! Would you believe Steve and Eydie have recorded a Christmas album, and Barbra has recorded not one but two Christmas albums?! And all those Christmas songs we hear on the radio are mostly written, and oftentimes performed, by Jews! Oy vay! This brings us back to myth Number 1, proving once again that Christmas is the Jewish Christmas! So, from my Trailer Park to Yours, here is wishing you a very Happy Jewish Christmas and a Merry Hanukah! 261
”
”
Milton Stern (The Gay Jew in the Trailer Park)
“
Like a bug drawn to light, Trump’s trust and respect tend toward those who praise him as the sun and moon. A fellow Republican questions his policy? They are a sad, crazy loser with a low IQ who can’t help but cry on their knees before his majesty. A foreign dictator wishes him a happy birthday and slurs an American rival? Best of brotherly love sent across the sea.
”
”
Shmuel Pernicone (Why We Resist: Letter From a Young Patriot in the Age of Trump)
“
I laugh a little self-consciously and wipe the lipstick from his mouth. I start to pull away, but Rhyson bends to whisper in my ear, holding me still in front of him. “You might, uh, wanna just stand here for a second unless you want this boner poking Aunt Ruthie in the eye.” I drop my head to his chest and giggle, but stand there obediently until he releases me to greet the people waiting to wish me a happy birthday.
”
”
Kennedy Ryan (Refrain (Soul, #3))
“
I previously spoke to Mrs. Newton of such… She's trading your shifts. She spoke to inform you she wishes you a: 'Happy Birthday.''
‘I- yet can't come over,’ I resolved, clambering for an excuse. ‘I, well, I mustn't watch Romeo and Juliet yet for English.’
Olivia squealed, ‘You have Romeo and Juliet memorized.’
‘Although Mr. Smith proclaimed, we obliged to notice it performed to thoroughly acknowledge it that's how Shakespeare intended it to be presented.’
Marcel rolled his eyes.
‘You've already seen the movie,’ Olivia accused.
‘Although not the nineteen-sixties version. Mr. Smith said it was the best.’
Subsequently, Olivia lost the self-satisfied smile and glared at me.
‘This can be obvious, or this can be troublesome, Bell, but one way or the others’
Marcel interrupted her threat. ‘Relax, Olivia. If Karly wants to watch a movie, then she can. It's her birthday.’
‘So there,’ I added.
‘I'll bring her over around seven,’ he continued. ‘That will give you more time to set up.’
Olivia's howling sounded again. ‘Sounds immeasurable good. See you tonight, Bell! It'll be fun, you'll see.’ She grinned- the wide smile revealed all her perfect, glistening teeth-then pecked me on the cheek and danced off moving her first class before I could respond.
‘Marcel, please-’ I started to beg, but he clasped one crisp finger to my lips.
‘Let's review it later. We're going to be late for school.’
No one bothered to stare at us as we took our representative seats in the back of the classroom (we should almost every class together now-it was amazing the favors Marcel could get the female administrators to do for him.)
”
”
Marcel Ray Duriez (Nevaeh Hard to Let Go)
“
A 2013 study titled “Envy on Facebook: A Hidden Threat to Users’ Life Satisfaction” explains why some people experience negative emotions while browsing Facebook. Researchers discovered that people felt the most anger and resentment when their “friends” shared vacation photos. They also experienced resentment when their “friends” received a lot of “Happy Birthday” wishes on their birthdays. Frighteningly, the study concluded that those who experience a lot of negative emotions while browsing Facebook experience an overall decline in general life satisfaction. Is that really what this world has come to—that we become dissatisfied with our own lives if we think another grown adult received a lot of birthday wishes on Facebook? Or that we feel resentful because our friend went away on a vacation?
”
”
Amy Morin (13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success)
“
At first, Maddy sends a card every Christmas, and Henry and Paul exchange emails on their respective birthdays. But Henry knew, even on the day he packed up the last of his belongings to drive to the other coast, when he said see you later to Paul, he was really saying goodbye. Paul chose, and Henry consented to his choice. Maybe Paul’s relationship with Maddy could have survived the weight of his pain, but sharing his burden with Maddy wasn’t a risk Paul was willing to take. Henry is the one to drop their email chain, “forgetting” to reply to Paul’s wishes of happy birthday. When Paul’s birthday rolls around, Henry “forgets” again. It’s a mercy—not for him, but for their friendship. Henry can’t bear to watch something else die slowly, rotting from within, struggling for one last breath to stay alive. Perhaps it isn’t fair, but Henry imagines he hears Paul’s sigh of relief across the miles, imagines the lines of tension in his shoulders finally slackening as he lets the last bit of the burden of the woman’s death go.
”
”
Ellen Datlow (Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles)
“
Christmas by Maisie Aletha Smikle
Smiles gifts and laughter fill the air
Families so dear
Gather and share
Love and happy cheer
Mary gave birth to Christ Jesus
Gloriously famed is He
People are happy on His birthday
They meet to celebrate this day
On Christ's birthday
There were gifts of myrrh
Frankincense and gold
Celebrating His birth that was foretold
Christmas day is Christ’s birthday
Once a year
Christ is cheered
For coming into the world
Woes and foes
Are forgotten
And joy and peace
Are release
Lights blink
Twinkle twinkle
Beckoning good wishes
To come in
Snow falling on roof tops
Cookies cooling on stove tops
Smoke whistling from the chimneys
Calling out to Santa on his sleigh
Don't come down tonight
It is frosty as frost bite
If you come down the chimney
You will be toasty as a toast
So on and on Santa goes
Round and round the globe
Delivering good wishes and happy cheers
And thanking God for Christ’s birth
”
”
Maisie Aletha Smikle
“
A googolplex of wishes,
To my lovely, Caring, pride!
From the first day of consciousness,
She was always by my side.
The one who always believed in me,
No matter how much the world opposed.
A very happy birthday to the one,
Who inspired me the most.
”
”
Priyanshu Dey
“
Happy Birthday to my beautiful twins granddaughters, my super heroes forever. May God bless you and cover you with His divine garment of protection all the days of lives.Grandma loves you and misses you so much.
”
”
Euginia Herlihy
“
him that he couldn’t speak to Jamie. Not even to wish her a happy birthday. It wasn’t that Jamie blamed either of them for anything. They weren’t happy people — apart or together. She looked up, Mary’s voice echoing back to her as she let the recording in. Roper was snapping his fingers and waving at her. She pulled the headphones down around her neck and sat up. ‘What is it?’ ‘You called the parents yet to follow-up?’ ‘Not yet.’ Her voice cracked a little and she coughed to cover it. ‘Good. It’s after twelve—’ he checked his watch ‘—we should get going if we’re going to catch Grace at the shelter.’ ‘Has Mary called?’ Jamie asked, taking a sizeable bite out of her bagel. She’d already eaten a bowl of granola and an apple. ‘No,’ Roper said, standing up and taking his pea coat off the back of his chair, ‘but I want to get there before she does and see her come in. Don’t want her to know we’re coming and come up with a story we can never disprove. Heroin, secrets, dead-boyfriend — there’s a lot she’s not going to want to say and I don’t need her getting any prep in before we arrive.’ Jamie inhaled deeply, letting the oxygen seep into her muscles. ‘Okay.’ ‘You call that doctor yet?’ Roper asked, throwing his coat around his shoulders. ‘No,’ Jamie said, shaking her head. ‘What the hell have you been doing all morning?’ She looked at her computer screen, at the twenty-eight windows she had open. All
”
”
Morgan Greene (Bare Skin (DS Jamie Johansson, #1))
“
Of course Iraq became the biggest, messiest experiment in changing the practice of minority rule. The country's once metastasizing chaos pushed many Arabs to conclude that the systems they suffered under were just fine thank you, given the violence involved in creating an alternative.
”
”
Neil MacFarquhar (The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday)
“
In order of importance as reformers detailed them for me: the stifling control of the secret police; the absence of any rule of law even if the constitution seems to guarantee it; the fact that one tribe or one clique has controlled each government for so long; the inherent difficulty in working alone because organizing is mostly banned; the daunting power of the Muslim Brotherhood or other religious parties; and, finally, the keen disappointment that a new generation of rulers did not automatically introduce a new way of thinking.
”
”
Neil MacFarquhar (The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday)
“
Rather than always holding up American traditions of democracy and freedom as the example, the U.S. should spend more time focused on what local traditions might be emphasized to help speed change. "You have to make the discussion indigenous, talk about justice and dignity... Democracy is discredited because it is too compromised and too identified with the West. You need something more rooted locally, so people know they have a stake in defining and constructing that.
”
”
Neil MacFarquhar (The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday)
“
In Syria, as in much of the Arab world, most people worry about poverty and unemployment, and when they talk about reform, they usually mean curbing rampant corruption... As a correspondent, I viewed corruption as a local story, cases rarely rising to the level requiring coverage. Hence one point that probably does not come across strongly enough to outsiders is the reason that reformers lack popular resonance. Their issues of political freedom and transparency seem rather abstract to ordinary people who just want a little job security and to avoid having to bribe their way through every petty government transaction.
”
”
Neil MacFarquhar (The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday)
“
U.S. policy is too often shaped by the desire to tamp down that violence as fast as possible, rather than fostering the kind of deep-seated, long-term changes that would kill its roots.
”
”
Neil MacFarquhar (The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday)
“
At five o’clock Tatiana took off her coat and her mask and goggles, splashed water on her face, retied her hair into a neat ponytail, and left the building. She walked on Prospekt Stachek, along the famous Kirov wall, a concrete structure seven meters tall that ran fifteen city blocks. She walked three of those blocks to her bus stop. And waiting for her at the bus stop was Alexander. When she saw him—Tatiana couldn’t help herself—her face lit up. Putting her hand on her chest, she stopped walking for a moment, but he smiled at her and she blushed and, gulping down whatever was in her throat, walked toward him. She noticed that his officer’s cap was in his hands. She wished she had scrubbed her face harder. The presence of so many words inside her head made her incapable of small talk, just at the time when she needed small talk most. “What are you doing here?” she asked timidly. “We’re at war with Germany,” Alexander said. “I have no time for pretenses.” Tatiana wanted to say something, anything, not to let his words linger in the air. So she said, “Oh.” “Happy birthday.” “Thank you.” “Are you doing something special tonight?” “I don’t know. Today is Monday, so everyone will be tired. We’ll have dinner. A drink.” She sighed. In a different world, perhaps, she might have invited him over for dinner on her birthday. Not in this world. They waited. Somber people stood all around them. Tatiana did not feel somber. She thought, but is this what I’m going to look like when I’m here by myself, waiting for the bus like them? Is this what I am going to look like for the rest of my life?
”
”
Paullina Simons (The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1))
“
It’s my birthday, Horus insisted. Wish me happy birthday! “Happy birthday!” I yelled. “Now, shut up!
”
”
Rick Riordan (The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles, #1))