my mother blames me for missing her only sibling's wedding, since i decided to be born 2 days before he was married. at least i can easily remember when his anniversary is and how many years he's been with my aunt.
my grandfather's birthday has always been the day right after mine, so i've had the pleasure of sharing parties with him. any pink cakes he's had in the past were due to my request.
eight years ago my sister carson was born the day after my grandfather, making us a birthday trio. luckily, we three will be together this year to celebrate.
i'm bad about birthdays. i forget most people's and i don't consider mine a big deal. i do like parties and surprises, but i don't care for a lot of attention.
but the one thing that has always thrilled me about my birthday is turning a new age. ever since i can remember, i've wanted to be older. i don't care so much about acting older as sounding older.
the best age i ever turned was 20. finally i was out of the teens. finally it was an age that sounded very old when i said it. i loved telling people i was twenty years old. 21 was better. 22 was best, and because of that, i'm not quite ready to give it up tomorrow. i've spent the last couple of months trying to reconcile myself to being 23, because this year i don't want to sound any older. i want to stop where i am. in my mind 22 is glorious in that it is old enough to be considered wise and mature in some ways, but young enough to excuse my childishness. twenty-three makes me feel like i'll have to begin acting like a grown-up and behaving more responsively and independently. i don't mind doing any of those things, but i don't want to be required to by my age. actually, in my mind the age that requires those things is really 25, so i have some time, but 23 is getting me dangerously close. so these are my qualms this year, but my happy thought is that i will be an odd number again.
and for the love of my 22nd year, here are some things i accomplished:
1. i braved my fear of the evil dmv women, and got my license
2. i attended my college graduation ceremony and actually enjoyed it
3. i discovered i very much like being an artist, and resolved to be one the rest of my life
4. i found out i love being in hospitals, and might want a real job in one someday
5. i spent the year as a rural dweller (my post-college dream), and discovered i miss and need people, and might like the city better after all
6. i learned how to make rice
7. i learned from having bright red hair, that attention (good or bad) won't kill me
8. i discovered the joy of writing people, as well as some beautiful people who like to write back
9. and from much failure, i learned to sit still and be in a moment without feeling the extreme need to get up and leave right away
so with those great accomplishments, my aspirations for 23 so far are:
1. to move around a bit, and enjoy cities
2. take my passport (that has never been used) on a trip
3. make my hair pink for a little while at least
4. work in either a coffee shop or bookstore, because i've always wanted to and never had the opportunity
5. unbelieve everything i said about having be grown up by a certain age
let me be the first to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I have to say, I actually have had it in my day timer for a while (from my when-is-your-birthday blog months ago) and have anxiously been awaiting this whole week to wish you a good one! Thanks for being such a dear encouragement to me even though i've actually never met you. someday. until then, you'll be the wonderful red kelly who's blog always cheers me! Love you!
Posted by: gwen at February 3, 2005 04:04 PModdly, when i am zoned from paperwork out and enter my age on forms without thinking, i always put down 22 subconsciously.
happy, happy birthday. although i did not know ahead of time, i actually sent you payment for the beautiful painting today via. fedex just to make the truck visit you. so you should get a fedex truck wishing you happy birthday tomorrow.
as for numbers 1 and 4 on the list for this year. we can fix those up for ya in a jiffy.
Posted by: amy at February 3, 2005 05:17 PMKel- I've been reading this for a while, since Julie showed it to me. There've been times I wanted to comment, but today I had to! As I am pushing 27 in a few weeks, let me just tell you- feel no pressure to grow up! At 26, I have rolled down hills and gotten sillier with my friends than ever before. I know its cliched, but how old you are has nothing to do with your chronological age!! Its all in the way you act!! At 50, I plan to still be able to be childish!!
Posted by: CourtneyP at February 3, 2005 05:41 PMHappy Birthday!
I am confident that you will make 23 the best yet.
Take Care
Michael
Happy Birthday RedClay girl!
It is sad to say that at the age of 27 I still think that I am 20, and then I see 20 year-olds....Honestly I can't wait for past 50. I think we need to learn something from Chinese culture and esteem age not shun it. Oh, by the way, if the professional family member bit doesn't work out, we have a spare room ready for you!
sember. thanks so much. i am actually really looking forward to my fifties/sixties as well. they aren't as intimidating as all the in-between ages...though i can't say i want to skip any ages. thanks for the room offer...it sounds like you have plenty of family for me to be a professional member of. but for real, i might very well be in chattanooga for a while in the near future, and you really ought to let me watch your kids sometime so you can take your husband on a date. you can ask amy, i'm good at watching children.
michael. thank you. i hope so.
amy. thanks so much for sending fedex to me. i can't wait to see the big white truck coming down our dirt road.
22 was your eternal (i can't remember what you called it) age, wasn't it? i think i might join you after further consideration, and give up my original 36. there should be a rule that you can only chose an age you've actually lived.
and, i'm serious about the coffee shop and city. does chip need any help in the next year?
gwen. thank you so very much. i'm always surprised when people remember my birthday, because i have such a hard time remembering everyone's. maybe we should meet someday in turkey? i am crazy about the middle east and i know michelle wants to go, so you could meet the gypsy too. leaving the country is on my list of things to do this year.
Posted by: kelly at February 3, 2005 11:49 PMcourtney. it was such an nice surprise to find a note from you today. thanks sooooo much. it's great to hear something from you. i'm glad your getting younger as you get older. i hope i do the same thing...and 27 sounds like a great age to turn. i might actually want to be that one some day.
Posted by: kelly at February 3, 2005 11:52 PMnow that courtney P is in on the commenting I feel the need to add my initial too! Happy Birthday!! Believe it or not, just the other day I was looking through an old organizer from camp and your birthday was on it. I thought I'd surprise you by saying happy birthday first...I was obviously wrong. Seems like a lot of people knew and remembered! Have a good one.
Posted by: courtney E at February 4, 2005 04:03 AMhappy birthday kelly, you are entering 23 as i am leaving it. enjoy it while it lasts, cause it is going to fly.. wow, i just sounded like a bitter old person.
~steve
Posted by: steve walker at February 4, 2005 08:14 AMHappy Birthday Kelly! In 22 years you have gained more wisdom than most people do in a life time. From that wisdom you have taught me much in a very short time...thank you. I hope your celebration today is truly wonderful!!
Posted by: Deb at February 4, 2005 03:42 PMThis old grandma still feels very young. I love my age, notice I'm not telling what it is, but I will if you ask. By the way, the cake isn't pink this year. Happy Birthday Dear. You are a special grandkid.
Posted by: G'ma at February 4, 2005 09:20 PMHappy Birthday Kelly, and let me add that you're almost exactly 21 years older than my son! So we're having a happy birthday season as well.
I have to say that I enjoyed every age until 26. Then I started feeling old. This year I turned 28 and it didn't bother me a bit. I love, love love what I've got to do before now and I've slowed down a lot, but I feel great! I've been married for 5 1/2 years and will have 2 kids before 30! what a blessing! an absolute blessing. And I have to agree with previous posts, the 20 year olds look reeeeeeeeal young to me too! God bless 'em, life was good then too!
Posted by: katiek at February 6, 2005 05:47 PMcourtney e. thanks. i have a faint memory that tells me your birthday is the 8th. am i crazy or is it true? either way, i'll tell you happy birthday in a couple days.
steve. i've decided to be very excited about being 23. 24 doesn't sound so bad. don't be bitter about it.
deb. thank you very much. i still haven't sent your pens! i promise tomorrow, though i'm sure i'm too late.
grandma. you're the perfect age.
kt. thank you. and you are in a very good/blessed place.
Posted by: kelly at February 6, 2005 08:18 PMWow. You've got a great faint memory...better than my husband's...he knows it's in Feb...just can never remember what day! Thanks.
Posted by: courtney e at February 7, 2005 04:42 AMkelly, i too braved the dmv this year and got the dasterdly deed over with! it is hard to think that we are the same age. my b-day is on the 22 of this month, so happy february birthday. i always enjoyed february b-days cause it was just enough time after christmas and it broke up the tedious not winter but not spring time. many happy returns of the day to you even tho this is late.
Posted by: hill at February 7, 2005 01:26 PMhill. it makes me so glad to discover other late drivers. my younger brother and sister started driving before me. our dmv ladies are some of the most frightening people i've ever met. i almost didn't pass the test. afterwards the lady accused me of not driving much. it was true. but then after going through a list of things i needed to work on, she took my picture and let me be a driver.
thanks for the birthday wish. i'm writing down the 22nd so i can try to remember your's. feb. is the best month for birthdays. everything is pink.
We share a birthday!
I knew there was some sort of kinship when I read your blog and sent you a previous note...
Happy Belated!
Paula (who had her own milestone this year....50!)
paula. i don't think i know anyone else with my birthday. how lovely. i can think of a million great things about turning 50. i hope you enjoyed it.
Posted by: kelly at February 13, 2005 07:49 PM