One to Remember
This post is copied directly from my website...I've decided that my birthday is something memorable enough to post here as well! :)
My 19th birthday. One of my favorites, I think; after all, it fell in the midst of one of the best summers I’ve ever had…you know, in the course of my short little existence on this earth. My birthday has lasted for about five days and now I think it has finally come to a close.
It might seem strange, but when I replay memories in my head they feel just like scenes in a movie. Like this: Thursday - one of the admissions counselors at the college is handing me a small ice cream cake with my name written in pink gel. It smells sweet. People from the building who don’t even know my name are coming to wish me happy birthday. Not surprising. Most people like cake. I pose for a picture with said admissions counselor and FLASH - It’s Friday. I’m sitting at an Italian restaurant in Lincoln. Two of my best friends are there. My parents sit across from me. I watch the flame flicker in a small bread-warmer and soak in what’s happening. It’s my birthday. My friend Amanda has made me a black and orange blanket. It means more to me than most things. My parents smile at me and don’t necessarily realize that we’re both missing each other get old. One day I’ll see them and their hair will be more gray then I remember and I won’t know where the time has went. That’s going to be a sad day. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. Suddenly my dad lifts his camera above the table and asks us to smile. 1…2…3 and FLASH.
It’s Saturday. I’m at the Omaha Botanical Garden letting the sun warm my skin and wandering amongst hundreds of beautiful flowers. FLASH. It’s Sunday. I’m sitting on a bench in the middle of campus with my mom and dad. Their plane leaves in less than two hours. I bite my lip. Why does it always feel like the last time? Why don’t goodbyes get any easier? Ever? A tear is born in the corner of my eye and I simply stare through it. FLASH. It’s Monday. My band director has just sung me a rousing albeit belated chorus of “Happy Birthday to You” in the middle of the rotunda in the middle of the office building in the middle of some kind of semi-important board meeting. FLASH. I’ve just thrown my arms around his neck and after a brief moment of shock I can feel him press his hands into my back. FLASH. I’m sitting in my cubicle, leaning back in my desk chair with my eyes closed, quietly celebrating the end of the best birthday ever…bittersweet nineteen.
That said, I definitely mean it when I say - this year is going to be great. :) :) :)
My 19th birthday. One of my favorites, I think; after all, it fell in the midst of one of the best summers I’ve ever had…you know, in the course of my short little existence on this earth. My birthday has lasted for about five days and now I think it has finally come to a close.
It might seem strange, but when I replay memories in my head they feel just like scenes in a movie. Like this: Thursday - one of the admissions counselors at the college is handing me a small ice cream cake with my name written in pink gel. It smells sweet. People from the building who don’t even know my name are coming to wish me happy birthday. Not surprising. Most people like cake. I pose for a picture with said admissions counselor and FLASH - It’s Friday. I’m sitting at an Italian restaurant in Lincoln. Two of my best friends are there. My parents sit across from me. I watch the flame flicker in a small bread-warmer and soak in what’s happening. It’s my birthday. My friend Amanda has made me a black and orange blanket. It means more to me than most things. My parents smile at me and don’t necessarily realize that we’re both missing each other get old. One day I’ll see them and their hair will be more gray then I remember and I won’t know where the time has went. That’s going to be a sad day. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. Suddenly my dad lifts his camera above the table and asks us to smile. 1…2…3 and FLASH.
It’s Saturday. I’m at the Omaha Botanical Garden letting the sun warm my skin and wandering amongst hundreds of beautiful flowers. FLASH. It’s Sunday. I’m sitting on a bench in the middle of campus with my mom and dad. Their plane leaves in less than two hours. I bite my lip. Why does it always feel like the last time? Why don’t goodbyes get any easier? Ever? A tear is born in the corner of my eye and I simply stare through it. FLASH. It’s Monday. My band director has just sung me a rousing albeit belated chorus of “Happy Birthday to You” in the middle of the rotunda in the middle of the office building in the middle of some kind of semi-important board meeting. FLASH. I’ve just thrown my arms around his neck and after a brief moment of shock I can feel him press his hands into my back. FLASH. I’m sitting in my cubicle, leaning back in my desk chair with my eyes closed, quietly celebrating the end of the best birthday ever…bittersweet nineteen.
That said, I definitely mean it when I say - this year is going to be great. :) :) :)