1/2

I once read that one simple key to a happy life is to celebrate your HALF birthday. As a child, there was nothing more exciting than turning 5 and a Half years old. Well maybe turning 6 would be more exciting--but 5.5 takes a close second.  Somewhere between 5.5 and adulthood, we lose the excitement of being 6 months older. I have practiced being excited about my movement forward in time, although the natural tendency is to reject age. On July 7th, I celebrated my 26 and a half birthday. I had a little party for myself; I ate pizza and got dairy queen and thought about how much life I have already experienced. And then I thought about the week I had in front of me. On July 7th, I celebrated 26.5 birthday. On July 8th, my parent’s had their 31st wedding anniversary. On July 9th, my baby brother celebrated his 19th birthday. On July 10th, my other brother moved to Colorado and my college roommate married her amazing boyfriend. These dates represent love, marriage, growing up, moving out, loneliness, laughter, hard word, and intimacy. I am proud of my brother for moving to Colorado. He is growing up, moving out, and risking familiarity for change. I am proud of my parents for loving each other for 31 years. I pray I can experience even just half of the love they have for each other when I find the man I marry. My baby brother's 19th birthday means he is months away from heading off to school and living away from his parents for the first time. I am jealous…super jealous. I remember how nervous I was to go to school and then how excited I was to be there; however, I could do without him going to PURDON’T. And finally, I am honored to have been a part of one of my best friend’s weddings. I feel there is nothing more moving than two individual pledging their love for one another.

In this world of stress, pain, and drama…It is nice to slow down and remember the simple things: half birthdays, full birthdays, anniversaries, marriages, and moves. I try also to never to forget love and friendship.

(Post Script  I only find time to post when I am procrastinating something important.  Today is my first statistics exam)