Right Up My Ali

..is worth celebrating.  It is the one day out of the year when acquaintances, friends, family, teammates, classmates, coworkers old and new come out of the wood work to wish you the best.  I woke up today like any other day.  I got up to get some water, looked out the window to make sure the sun was out (it was – phew), stretched my arms and in the mirror I saw the same person I’ve seen for the past 27 years.  Yup.  I look, feel, talk, act, play the same way I did yesterday and the day before and the day before.

I’ve been on this earth 27 years but there are times when my spirit feels like a 7 year old skipping around my yard trying to catch frogs barefoot wearing overalls.  With every passing year I feel just a little bit more wise and a little more grateful but really what I feel is exactly the same.   I wonder what teenagers think when they see me.  I wonder if they think I’m someones mom.  I’m no longer their peer but it feels like  just last week that my friends and I were driving around town in our SUVs putting beer cans in people’s nativity scenes.  I bump into (literally) college kids and although I can’t hang like I used to I get flash backs of dollar dares, late night pizza, and blasting Britney Spears Toxic with all the windows open while drinking brass monkeys on a Tuesday night just because we could.  I’m pumped about not being fresh out of college but I know too well the surprise Sunday dread and the monotony of a 5-day work week.

As I got in the shower today I thought back about where I thought I’d be at 27 six years ago.  The great thing is, no matter where I thought I’d be living, what I thought I’d be doing and who I thought I’d be married to (with kids) – I never dreamed I’d be this content.  FYI, life keeps getting better.

The first thing I heard this morning was “Happy Birthday” and I hope it is the last thing I hear before I fall asleep.  There is something about those two words that brings a smile to my face.   Some people don’t like birthdays but that will never be me.  NO WAY.  NOT NEVAH.  How could I ever dislike a day that calls for celebration?

Thank you to everyone for making this special Monday birthday so great.