A Simple 17th Birthday Celebration

In the quiet village of Musi, North Bali, where my parents-in-law live as farmers, we recently celebrated my daughter’s seventeenth birthday. It was a simple yet meaningful moment during our week-long stay at the end of twenty twenty-four. With the school holidays and New Year festivities, it seemed to be the right time to gather as a family.

There was no grand cake this time, but my sister-in-law creative. We bought a box of doughnuts and turned them into a birthday centerpiece. We placed candles on top, including a special "seven" candle we managed to find. Since we couldn’t locate a matching "one" candle, we used a regular candle to complete the number seventeen. My daughter didn’t mind at all—in fact, she seemed genuinely happy.

As she blew out the candles, surrounded by the smiles and cheers of family—my wife, parents-in-law, and siblings-in-law—I felt a mix of emotions. Deep in my heart, I regretted not being able to give her the extravagance she deserves. A seventeenth birthday is such a significant milestone, and it felt like it should have been more elaborate. Yet, in this moment, I saw her happiness, and I reminded myself that love and togetherness matter more than anything.

My wife had prepared a delicious meal of local dishes: steamed rice, sweet tempeh, shredded chicken, chicken in sauce, and fresh vegetables. We sat together, sharing food and laughter, and I knew that these simple joys made the day special.

Still, I hope that in the future, things will be different. I dream of a time when I can give her more—not because it’s necessary, but because it’s something I long to do as a father. For now, though, this celebration was enough. Her smile told me that what we had was more than enough.