While planning the birthday dinner for my mother and my daughter, my mother casually said, “I’ll bring the cake.  I have a special cake topper I bought a while ago and didn’t get to use, and I thought it would be fun.”

Me:  Okay.

Mom:   It turns around and plays Happy Birthday.

Me:  Okay.

Mom:  I can’t remember where I bought it.  Maybe Hallmark.

Me:  Okay.

Mom:  I’m not really sure how it works.

Me:  Okay.

My first clue that this was not going to be a demure little reusable spinning cake topper was the warning:  Do not use near anything that can catch on fire.

Fair enough.

Second clue:  Light the center with the enclosed long wooden stick.  Use horizontally or you will burn yourself.

Good advice.

Check out the flame on this little sucker.

As the center flames burns, it lights the outer petals’ candles.  Then the magic happens:  the flower begins to turn and music plays “Happy Birthday”.

It was very exciting, in a bungee-jumping-thrill-seeking way.  Nancy wanted to get the fire extinguisher, just in case.   Banjo Man bravely made sure all the little candles were lit.  Son-in-law Mike wanted to know how it worked.  Mom wouldn’t tell anyone what she paid for it.  And I desperately–and unsuccessfully–tried to figure out how to use the video recording feature on my new camera.

If you want more excitement at your next birthday, click here.