26 Candles.

Today is my 26th birthday! Wooo!!  As you, dear reader, are well aware, I have been struggling with the mid-mid life crisis and the aging process.  (read – gray hair post.)  But today, is a welcomed and joyous day…how often do you turn 26?

I must admit I am actually writing this on June 4th.  I will be traveling tomorrow to San Francisco where I get to spend the weekend with Joe and friends.  I couldn’t think of any way I’d rather spend my birthday.  Well, maybe swimming in a pool of money like Scrooge McDuck with Joe and friends…but I’ll save that’s for another day.

My random birthday thoughts:

1. I hope that I never get to the age of dreading my birthday.  I realize that time sneaks up on you these days.  Being 5 took forever…but being 25 seemed like a quick walk around the block.  I think that as long as you are happy with the progress you have made in the last year, a birthday is always welcome and to be celebrated.
2. That being said…I just pictured Joe and I celebrating my 70th birthday and its pretty cool.  Maybe I’ll get a bright pink cake topped with a bonfire of 70 candles just for the fun of it.
3. My parents always said I was a great child…until it was my birthday, and then the terror was released.  (I believe the word my mom used was “brat”.)
4. My family celebrated half-birthdays.  We would get a cake with 5 1/2 candles on top (for example) while being sung to…”Happy half-birthday to you!…”  No wonder my full birthday expectations were so high! haha
5. One of my favorite birthday memories was a surprise party I had when I turned 16.  (I think.)  Joy, Darcy, and I were at the fair when one of them decided to go for a walk around the park.  I look up the hill at this pavilion area and see all my friends…and my mom….and I was so confused.  “I wonder what’s going on??”, I asked.  “OH!  I think its something with Young life, ” Joy quickly replied.  I had never been so surprised nor flattered that it was a party just for me.
6. I’m hard to surprise.  My parents tried a first surprise party when I was younger.  (5-7ish?)  We were carpooling to dance lessons with my friends Darcy and Sarah.  When we got to my house and I normally am just let out of the car, Darcy and Sarah jumped out of the vehicle before I could get out, but not before turning and looking at me and giggling.  The giggling gave it away.  I knew right then something was up…but it was good time none the less.
7. Summer birthday’s are awesome.
8. One of the worst birthday memories I have was from a few years ago.  I received a carefully wrapped package from my sister.  I was by myself for some reason that year and had this one, perfect box to open.  I sat down alone to open it…and within the box were smaller items.  As I went to unwrap them, I noticed something was off.   Item 1 was a little plate that had broken in transit.  I was pretty disappointed, but moved on.  Item 2 was a little cup….that had broken.   Moved on.  Item 3 – dish.  Broken.  I too, then broke down into tears.  It was so sad.  I have all 3 pieces still.  I fixed them with some industrial strength glue, and for some reason, they make me smile about that day when I see them around the house.
9. My parents were born on the same day.  For the longest time, I thought that’s how you knew you’d found true love…if your birthdays were the same.  Maybe Mark Wahlberg doesn’t know that we are soulmates yet…

26 has a good ring to it.  Nice, even numbers.  And, being 25 was great.  I traveled to cool places, married my wonderful husband, and made memories along the way.  Who knows.  Maybe at 26, you are past the quarter-life crisis and just live.  That would be pretty sweet.

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