My mother was impressed that I could calculate my half-birthday
on the fly
with such ease
as if, after calculating it the first time
maybe thirty five years ago
it wouldn’t prove to be muscle memory
to remember my half-birthday
the next time
and the next time
and the next.

It’s not like my half-birthday changes.
I even remember hers, sometimes.
The trick is not to confuse her half-birthday with mine.

I remember my quarter-birthday, too,
since one of them
happens to be Sanjay’s birthday
so easy peasy.

Anyway, I didn’t share
the easiness peasiness
of my birthday math with my Mom.
Let her stay impressed.