The Big Squat, a Birthday, and the Water Balloon Cake

My husband turned 29.

Wow.

That is almost 30.

Crazy.

He should probably graduate.

If you will remember from last year his birthday also happens to be World Toilet Day. Which when your name is Jon and you are an Environmental Engineer emphasizing in waster water is just too good to be true.

Every November 19th The World Toilet Organization sponsors events all over the world called "The Big Squat", in which people publicly squat for a minute, to draw awareness to the 2.5 billion people in the world (40% of the world's population) who don't have any form of sanitation. Last year we did a Big Squat, but it consisted of me, Jon, Asher and baby Rose squatting in our dinning room. This year Jon told me that all he wanted for his birthday was to organize a Big Squat event up on the university.

So we did.

Before the squat Jon talked about the plight of people in the world and how this "was a unserious way to talk about a serious issue." While we were squatting one of Jon's professors talked to us about the seriousness of the problem and how more people (mostly children) die every year from diarrheal diseases (caused by poor or no sanitation) than from HIV and malaria combined. He said as we squatted there for a minute four people would have died from totally preventable diseases. It really is such a tragedy that people don't have access to these basic sort of human needs. It is something that we take SO much for granted here in the United States. We don't realize how privileged we are and how grateful we should be for the ability to have safe water and safe sanitation.

We got a lot of interesting stares, but it made people stop and ask questions. It was so much fun for me to see Jon get to share his passion with other people. It really isn't a glamorous topic, most people would just like to never have to think about it, and so it was fun to see the light go on in people's minds and for them to catch the importance of what Jon and his colleagues are doing. We had about 25 people come and the local and campus newspaper, which was pretty good considering it was just Jon and I organizing it and we only started to advertise it on Thursday. Next year I think one of the engineering clubs on campus is going to sponsor it and turn it into a bigger event. I think Jon would be thrilled if that was the only legacy he left behind when he graduates.

The rest of Jon's birthday was really great too. I got overambitious with his cake and made two this year because Jon's cousin had a great idea for a prank. She suggested making a cake and hallowing it out inside and then putting a water balloon inside that would pop when you cut the cake. It sounded like fun and so I tried it out. I made the most hideous cake possible (not on purpose) and hid a balloon inside. I told Jon that I'd tried to make a toilet paper roll cake but that it hadn't worked out and that I was sorry he was going to have to have such an ugly cake.

He had no idea there was a balloon in it until he started cutting it. I probably should have given him a sharper knife so it would have popped easier but still it was really hilarious. It was one of the best pranks I've ever pulled.

After he'd popped the other cake then I brought out his real cake which I'd hidden in the cupboard. In keeping with our newly established tradition it was toilet themed. I'm definitely not a professional cake decorator by any means but I think my toilet paper roll turned out kind of cute. ( I found a great recipe for making fondant out of marshmallow cream if you ever need it)

I'll admit that I was sort of hesitant to turn Jon's birthday into a "World Toilet Day" celebration as well. Yet seeing that it is what Jon is going to be doing for the rest of his life-- and has such a passion for it-- I guess it is sort of appropriate. Besides, it sure makes the day much more interesting.

Happy Birthday Sir!