I need to know if I'm being a miserable cow or not re my birthdays. I don't like a fuss but do love it when friends/family pop round with a card or gift and for a chat, chilled day, nice bit of lunch etc, lovely cards from the kids, maybe a meal out. I don't however like a big organised thing where everyone is invited to come at the same time for food, birthday cake singing happy birthday etc. I just don't like all that attention, much prefer the company of a couple of people at a time and no fuss!!
I ask because close friend is completely the opposite, birthdays should be all about big fuss etc etc and there is pursing of lips when EVERY year I am not 'doing something' for my birthday, nor do I want a cake in a restaurant with everyone singing if I go out for a birthday meal. She even questioned whether it's because my mum didn't make a big deal of birthdays when I was young (she did but in a way she knew I liked, favourite meal, nice cake at home, most favourite auntie coming to visit) and I found that quite insulting. 
So am I being miserable to like my birthdays the way I like them?? I feel quite tense every year when the same questions come up and feel like I'm being told there's something wrong with me not wanting a big fuss, it's like a constant niggle and spoils it all a bit really. Not a huge problem in the scheme of things I suppose but it gets me down.
So am I miserable or at nearly 40 can I suit myself?