I’m 28 and 364/365ths

by Mara @ What's For Dinner? on July 28, 2009

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Ever since I was a little girl, my mom celebrated what everyone else would think were “weird” landmarks. Half birthdays warranted half sandwiches, half lunch bags, half juice boxes, and thanks to a jewelry saw, half quarters. Three-quarters birthdays got $0.75 in, what else, quarters, and we’d get 3/4 of a sandwich. I can remember for oh, just as long as I can remember, the day before my birthday my mom saying “You’re (insert age here) and 364/365ths!” or one more on leap year. There’s always the phone call about 2 in the afternoon the day before as well “I was in labor with you!!!” And I’m reminded (lovingly!) that it was 36 hours without drugs.

Birthday parties growing up were always the coolest in our house…and people from elementary school I still talk to remind me of this all the time! We’d have tie-dye parties where the “goodie bag” was the t-shirt. There were jewelry parties where we made earrings, and as I got older, a few select friends would get to go do cool things. I can remember birthdays at the beach, birthdays downtown Chicago, birthdays in rural michigan picking blueberries…

Can’t believe I’m doing this… but here are some flashbacks for you, and I’m apologizing now to Josh and Leigh. All descriptions/dates are left to right, and are likely approximate.

Age 1; age 9 months

Kindergarten Portrait (1985); age 2

With my Papa (love of food started early!) age 1; age 4 w/hula hoop, which I still can’t do

Age 3; and age 3 at piano with My Little Pony

Age 5 in a stylin’ sailor suit; age 15 w/Josh, sophomore homecoming, pre-boobs

Age 1; senior portrait age 17, 1998

Age 12 at Bat Mitzvah with Leigh; 8th grade portrait with HOT bangs and floral bodysuit

Me and Adam in the last year…

My last oh, 10 birthdays have been an event, as my camp friends like to go all out, usually with Mexican food. This year, we did pub grub, mostly because I’ve been dreaming about this burger for 7 weeks:

Yes, I ate the fries. And dipped them in that melted Merkt’s cheese. And that’s more cheese ON the burger with a local-made bun. Drool worthy, and perfect with this:

Basically, as Roni says, “Beer-flavored seltzer water” but it hit the spot. It was nice to go out for a relaxed dinner, get birthday hugs at the end of it, and come home to a nice cool house.

There was a package waiting for me on the counter when I got home… a long green and purple package that meant only one thing: someone had sent me flowers! I opened it up and found the most amazingly gorgeous white orchids and swirly green vase from my mom and stepdad!! Check it out:

How freaking gorgeous are those?!? I’ve never gotten orchids before, so I hope I know how to take care of them…

So tomorrow is my golden birthday, an age that as a young kid, I never ever thought I’d reach because it was “soooo ooolllldddd” and now? I’m pretty certain that this is going to be one of the best years of my life. I’m spending tomorrow at Lake County Fair with my campers and Adam, and then going to dinner. Have a great Wednesday, all! I know I will!