Could I have planned this any better? To have my birthday fall on a Thursday I mean?
The answer to that is, of course, NO! I could not have. (Also you needed to read that as Chandler, to really appreciate it, but you already knew that. Right? Good!)
What's so great about Thursday you ask? Well, company lunches for one. (Thank you West Coast.) And Bible study/dinner for two.
And for three... there's something Awkward & Awesome about Thursdays, don't you think? And I can't think of better adjectives for a successful birthday.
Sooooo.... on that note, the Awkward transition one, I'm on the down hill side of 30, officially.
Yes, 26 is actually past the halfway point. But if you're bad at math (like I am) you can get away with rounding down, I think.
At 20 SEVEN, though, not soooo much. The jig is up, whatever that means. (Is it a puzzle reference? Wow I am old.)
I mean, I guess super technically I've got 2 hours and 1 minute of my delusional youth left.... but seeing as how I'm spending that time surrounded by college students who are blowing off steam during finals week I think it's safe to say the transition has already happened. Quite possibly a very long time ago. Which reminds me, when did music get so stinkin' LOUD?! (JK, but only kind of.)
Well, it's been a good couple of days actually, some might even call 'em Awesome.
Partly 'cause yesterday I learned a juicy tip from my new hairdresser, a wonderful woman named Kanetzo. (Don't people in Waco have the most fabulous names??) NO, it wasn't the secret of taming flyaways. Bummer.
But, according to the second coolest lady I "know" (can't forget my Zumba instructor) ... the one who was fixing my hair during a black out yesterday... at a certain point women are allowed to start aging backwards. Who knew?
That's right... we can Benjamin Button ourselves. Or Jack 2: Back to Baby things as my brother might say.
However you say it, I have it on good authority (licensed authority) that I am 25 now. And forever.
Not bad, right?
But then again... what was so great about 25? Not a lot that I can remember. (Old person joke, get it?)
And that has me thinkin'... maybe, just maybe, the biggest gift I've received this birthday isn't my stalker print of my sister (long story :) ), or the CD I just bought myself (paid for in quarters), or even the head-sized brownie compliments of On the Border...
Maybe the best thing I could receive/realize this year is that I'd honestly rather keep moving forward than try to backtrack. While this is bad news for my calves (is that the muscle running backwards works?) it's great news for the rest of me - namely my heart - which had gotten kinda weary from all my rearview looking. A heart that seems pretty content with the idea of putting the gear back in drive.
Yea, I know that moving forward probably means grey hairs (or more of them in my case) and a lot of wrinkle lines I imagine.
It may also mean going to bed at 9 o'clock (wahhh wah) and avoiding places crowded with overly caffeinated teens.
But... I think it could also be filled with a lot of blessings. I mean, there has to be a reason people coined the phrase "aging gracefully" right? It can't just be a term reserved for non-botoxed celebrities, can it?
Surely it applies to anyone willing to embrace their extra years with a radiating inner joy... an irrepressible hope that the best is yet to come?
Well that's what I'm telling myself anyways. (Talking to oneself? A bad sign?) If you know this to be untrue, please don't tell me. Ignorance is bliss... at least when it comes to aging.
Cups more wisdom. And bowls full of more grace. A pinch more sensibility. Pints more discipline... those are the things I'm wishing for on my imaginary birthday candles tonight. (I guess it's hard to float tiny flames in the tops of lattes.)
And maybe, just maybe, I'm also wishing for the medical miracle a friend proposed to me via text today.
Calorie free cupcakes! A girl can dream right?
Well dream I shall. I'll dream of a tomorrow that's even brighter than today. A tomorrow with just as much fun, but maybe a tiny less refried goodness.
I read recently that how we spend our days is how we spend our lives. And if that's the case I gotta say the next 30 years are looking pretty up.
Thank you everyone that contributed to today being a truly Happy Birthday.
It so beyond exceeded my expectations, and I'm not just saying that 'cause I decided to set the bar pretty low this year.
I really am blessed, because you all are blessings. Thank you. Gracias. In other words, you rock!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- But wait, there's more - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
I hate to rob you/me of the traditional Thursday madness. So here's just a hint more Awkward/Awesome for ya. Bullet-style for your reading convenience.
Awkward: Wanting to say "you too" when people wish you "happy birthday." It's the same kind of awkward I feel whenever the waiter says "come back and see us," and I respond, "you too." That happens often, I must say.
Awesome: When a coworker offers you a piece of watermelon gum as an impromptu birthday present. Especially when it's so warm you know it's been sat on all morning. :) LOL I've called it awesome and I'm sticking with it, even if hot, fruity gum did creep my mouth out quite a bit.
Awkward: Getting threatened with a lawsuit. On your birthday. Because some people really don't want to be taught how to spell (or to capitalize BIBLE!).
Awesome: Spending $7 to walk away with one fabulous shirt, a.k.a. the On the Border employee uniform. See above for details.
Awkward: Getting to work and realizing that darling skirt you rescued from Target's clearance rack is about 8 scary inches shorter than you realized. Oops. Good thing I didn't need to perform the "bend and snap" today.
Awesome: Seeing that you got a dang scratch in your "cute" nerd glasses... but it reminding you that Harry Potter is coming out soon!!! Yay!
Awkward & Awesome: Receiving a 100th birthday card and another with ducks. Awesome 'cause they were oddly hilarious. Awkward 'cause the latter of the two served as an excuse for people to start a rumor that the intern smells like ducks. (Sorry intern. If it makes you feel better, I'd venture to guess you smell more like old flannel shirts than stale bread. Also, you should feel good I never get close enough to smell you - that'd be beyond awkward.)
From my sister to me to you... think of it as cute please. Not creeeppy!
Feliz Cinco de Mayo amigos. In other words, happy today.
Thanks for making it special. Thanks for making it count!
Recent Comments