TWQ: Birthday Presents & The Captain's Birthday

Today is my birthday! As a result, TWQ (The Weekend Question) asks this:

What is the best and the most unusual birthday present you have received?

This is my answer:

The best birthday present I ever had was the party that took place when I was 21. The whole family, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends etc were together, with a great disco. Everybody thought it was the best party they had ever been to.

The most unusual present was when I was 26. My parents had secretly booked a kissogram girl to visit me at the office where I worked. Everybody knew except me; as I was working away on my computer, a barely clad woman sneaked across the office and said , "Hello!" I have never been so surprised. Cameras were clicking away. My father was watching from the window behind me!

Now it's over to you...

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What is going on?

It's my birthday, and no one on the Enterprise has said anything to me at all about it,not even the senior staff.

They are just saying, "Good morning, Captain." and the usual formalities.

If someone doesn't say "Happy Birthday!" soon, I shall put everyone on double shifts...no, make that TRIPLE shifts."

Now that's strange; I'm walking around the decks and it all seems so very quiet.

Just what IS going on?

I get a message on my Com from Riker.

"Captain, we have an emergency in Ten Forward; we need you here right away!"

Can't Riker handle it himself? He usually gets in a panic if the replicators break down and isn't able to get his supply of donuts.

I enter Ten Forward; it's all dark.

"SURPRISE!!"

A mass of voices shout before the lights come on; it's the entire crew.

The senior staff come forward; Beverly speaks,

"Sorry, Jean-Luc, for the little deception, but we decided to have your birthday party here."

Deanna brings forward a large cake with several candles alight; I won't say how many, but it looks like Worf is ready with Security in case anything sets alight.

Riker joins the band they have hired, who are Arnold and The Astronauts. Everybody sings:

"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, Captain Picard,
Happy birthday, to you."

As usual, I get a little embarassed when I'm the centre of attention, like when I visit the children on Captain's Day.

"Err...thank you very much, everybody."

The crew then get to another day of music and dancing

'Birthday Boogaloo' gets them going...

What a super day it is;
the one day of the year
we get to celebrate the fact
that you're even here -- it's your birthday!
Happy birthday to you!

We're gonna have some fun today;
it's all because of you.
So grab your friends and make 'em dance
a birthday boogaloo -- on your birthday!
Happy birthday to you!

Any other day is just
any other day of the year,
but today we want to celebrate
'cause we're so thankful you're even here
-- oh yeah!

Bake yourself a birthday wish
and blow the candles out.
Do a backward somersault
and jump and twist and shout -- it's your birthday!
Happy birthday to you!

Before your birthday's over
there's one thing I want to do;
if I may, I'd love to dance
a boogaloo with you -- on your birthday!
Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you!
Do the birthday boogaloo!

It's your birthday!
Happy birthday to you!

After that, we spend the time playing Twister, which left the crew in a tangle. If we had an alien invaders at that time, there could be a problem.

Lastly, Beverly comes on in a shimmering dress like Marilyn Monroe's and sings huskily and slowly:

"Hap-py birth-day to you,
Hap-py birth-day to you,
Hap-py birth-day, Cap-tain Pi--card,
Hap--py bir---thday, to... you."

I needed some Bajoran Brandies and Klingon Bloodwine then.

When it is all over, Beverly kisses me and whispers, "Happy Birthday, Jean-Luc."

I guess it's been a great Birthday!