I turned 24 yesterday. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t terribly excited about turning this new age. Why? It’s silly. When I was younger (maybe 8th/9th grade) I had always told myself that by the time I turned 24, I wanted to be married and have a great job and be living my dream life. 24 was just “that age” for me, we all had one. Once I hit 18 and went to college, I realized just how ridiculous my “plan” was, and didn’t think about it again for a long time and just decided to take life as it comes. About a month before turning 24, I remembered that silly little plan and found myself quite sad. I knew that it was ridiculous, but was also sad that it didn’t end up that way.
Yesterday, I decided to make the best of it, and take a “scary age” for me and make it into something fabulous. I had an awesome night planned, and decided that the whole entire DAY was going to be awesome. I took pictures of the various things I/we did, so be warned, this is picture heavy!
A few days before my birthday, I got this AMAZING package in the mail from Amanda! Not only did she give me one of the best cards I’ve ever seen (side note: this birthday has held AMAZING cards from everyone… good work!), she sent me a book that I know I’ll love, more postcards and some makeup goodies! She also sent me Season 3 of Bones to watch… but that one I’ll have to return to her. Sneaky lady, she’s king of the lab for that one!
Amanda’s card: “A Birthday Fairy Tale. Once upon a time, there was a princess who was like a size four or something. She could eat and drink whatever she wanted and always stayed really skinny and had flat, firm abs even though she never went to the gym. Every time she tried on jeans, the very first pair fit perfectly and made her butt look amazing. She lived in a great big, beautiful castle with her handsome, multimillionaire husband, who was busy all the time buying her giant diamonds, taking her to Hawaii, giving her foot massages, and telling her how beautiful she was. One day, she was eaten by a dragon and no one cared. The End.”
Birthday day! My dad likes to add little things to the calendar besides the numbers and the birthday cakes, so it was so cool to wake up and see not only the cake, but the little Phillies sign!
My mom is the best mom in the world, and she usually makes us breakfast for our birthdays or special occasions. She asked if I wanted the works, but I said that all I wanted was these tiny little cherry pie things. All it is is premade pie crust cut into circles with cherry pie filling thrown in the oven but GEEZ they are delicious. I ate entirely too many, but it was my birthday, so calories didn’t count.
At some point in the morning, Mary sent me such a special email. She told me a little white lie a while ago, and then surprised me on my birthday with something that made my heart soar (in such a geeky way). I have no picture of what she gave me because it lives on my computer screen at the moment, but I do plan on printing it out and keeping it forever. It made me feel so lovely, and I wish I could be that lovely in real life.
Before lunch, I opened up cards from my parents, brother and grandmoms. So very nice. I usually keep all my cards, and this year is no exception.
Will’s card (since the rest are gushy and personal): “A sister is someone who helps you through any trouble. Because she’s probably the one who got you in trouble in the first place.”
Lunchtime! We had a “very fancy” Wawa meal because we just wanted to get something in our stomachs before that night, and it was quick and easy so… there you go. I got my favorite sandwich, and my brother added in my favorite chips and favorite Wawa iced tea! Speaking of my brother…
… that’s right. He got me princess Silly Bandz for my birthday. I’m so glad he didn’t spend a ton of money and just got me something silly instead. We discovered these a week or so ago and are fascinated. I bought us a rock ‘n roll set, and I was so happy to have gotten the princess set. Yes, I’m obviously regressing. They’re just so pretty!
It was almost time to head out to the game, but before that…
… my best friend Kristen came over! She was coming to the game with us, so we decided to all take one car. She brought me TWO beautiful cards (one silly, one heartfelt, as per usual with us) and this gorgeous box from Russia. She lived there for a year teaching English and has brought me so many amazing goodies from there. Amber earrings, beautiful postcards and now this keepsake box! I have to find something super special to keep in there.
One of Kristen’s cards: “Friends like us understand how important it is to recognize birthdays. Count, no. Recognize, yes.”
Game time! We were seated in the very first row of the 400 level and you know what… it was AWESOME. We could see the game clearly and had perfect seats for fireworks. (Let’s all thank my dad for that one.) Our whole group was me, my mom, my dad, my brother, Kristen, my cousin Larisa, her husband Colin and my aunt and uncle. So. much. fun. I asked for them to not tell the Phillies it was my birthday because then they throw confetti at you, so we just pretended that my name was up on the big screen when they were going through the list. The best part that really made it feel like my name was up there? “Last of the American Girls” was playing. I got such a happy from that.
Once we hit midway through the game, it wasn’t looking so good for the Phillies. The game was 7-1 in favor of the Reds, so we were all kind of resigned that nothing was really going to happen. That’s a LOT to make up. So the fact that the Phanatic dressed up as Gaga and danced with a dance academy to “Telephone” was a real bright point. It was SO funny!
And then… the game completely changed. It was pretty much a birthday miracle. Bottom of the ninth, the Phillies got six runs to tie the game! Bottom of the tenth… another two to win it. It was so unreal. Two birthday wins in a row. Last year: a win and an inside the park home run. And fireworks. This year, another win, a foul pole home run and MORE fireworks. I think my birthday is lucky or something. And I’m pretty sure you’ll all know where to find me next year.
Please excuse the blur, I was doing this handheld and was more concerned with enjoying the show than getting a fabulous picture of it. The fireworks were, once again, out of this world. And I like to pretend that they were just for my birthday. Or, you know, America’s birthday. Whatever.
After the game, Kristen came home for a sleepover in my bed with me, and we watched an Olsen twins movie, New York Minute. It was just like when we were kids! I went to bed with a full heart, thankful that my birthday turned out to be such an amazing day.
As it turns out, my birthday wasn’t quite over yet! I got this absolutely beautiful card in the mail today from Megan and Jason, and it just reminded me how good I really do have it. Thanks for the mini birthday extension, you two, it was awesome! I love what Megan wrote in the card, “I predict that this year will be one of your best yet on a couple of levels, so don’t sweat getting any older.” I swear, sometimes that girl knows me better than I know myself.
I’m so thankful that so many of you remembered my birthday! It was so wonderful, I’m truly blessed. I went into that day preparing to still tell people that I was 22… and came out of it thinking that maybe 24 wouldn’t be so bad after all. Thank you to: Dad, Mom, Will, Kristen, Grandmom, Babcha, Mary, Larisa, Colin, Chocha & Vuyko, Megan, Jason, Marika, Uncle Harry & Aunt Barbara, Nikki, Lisa, Hayley, Liz C., Amanda S., Amanda B., Nik, Matt, Melissa, Fran & Joanne, Michal, Megan H., Carolyn, Devon, Eric, Michael T., Jess, Doug, Hannah, Michele, Davey, Allison B., Pete, Susie, Nicole, Erin K., Chris, Tom, Pat, Mandy, Katie L., Maeve, Nancy, Sarah M., Uncle Raym & Aunt Sally, Aunt Terry & Uncle Larry, Aunt Stacy, Morgan, Jo Anna, Jasmine, Lenora, Leah, Georgia, Alysha, Erin, Elise, Tobey, Sarah… and anyone else that I may have missed! Thank you for the best day I’ve had in a long time!
