Day 29 - Last Day of 29!

There are couple of things that are new today. 1) This is the last day of my twenties and 2) I am about to get ready for a birthday party that I did not organize and plan for myself.

As far as days go, I would say that so far it has been an exceedingly ordinary day.  I woke up early, and was unceremoniously kicked out of my girlfriend’s fiance’s condo so the girls could start decorating for the party tonight.  I went to an 8am yoga class, taught two hours of dance, and then went to my parents to chill with my family and the dog. My mom made pancakes and bacon, and I took an epic two-hour nap curled in a chair because my six-foot-four brother is in for the party and he commandeered the couch. 

I woke up, wasted time on Facebook, ate some Chex mix and a chicken sandwich, drank a cup of coffee and graded one and a half essays.  Yes, not one and a half class sets, but one and a half essays.  Super productive. 

Mostly, I’ve spent the day in limbo, waiting for the evening to get here, so I can go to the first party that has been planned for me since I was, I don’t know, five.  I remember my fifth birthday with incredible clarity.  I wore my very favorite forest green sweatshirt with bright, multi-colored, puffy paint splatter all over it.  My parents had a party for me, and my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents came over to celebrate.  I remember blowing out the candle in the shape of a five, and I remember the stacks of presents lined up on the stereo all for me.

Now, I’m sure my parents threw parties for me after I turned five, but for some reason, it is the one that I remember most vividly.  I remember spending the morning before everyone came over nearly overwhelmed with barely suppressed excitement.  I’m sure I chattered the entire day, jumping around, sticking my nose in closets and under beds looking for presents, incessantly opening the refrigerator to look at my cake.  I loved that it was my birthday, and I loved that all these people I loved were going to be there for me.

I have felt a little bit like that all day today.  There is a theme to tonight’s party, and I have no idea what it is.  I told the girls that I didn’t want to know – that I wanted a surprise.  Every time someone told me they were coming tonight, the first words out of my mouth were “don’t tell me the theme.”  I have never had a surprise like this, and needless to say, I’m super excited. 

I’m also overjoyed to have so many of the people I treasure in my life together in one room tonight.  I’m not sure when I became this way, but for most of my adult life, I’ve been a “people over presents” kind of person.  The best gift my friends can possibly give me is to just show up ready to rock and give me a big birthday hug. I’m looking forward to many of those tonight.  Now I'd better go get ready.  I don't want to be late to my own party :)