Date of Birth

Today is my birthday.  It was much like most other days, honestly.  I went to work, did a few errands, came home, and went with my mom to see The Messiah (which was absolutely divine... I shed tears on more than one occasion).  I had a low-key but good day, which, at the sound age of twenty-six, I suppose means I'm a grown-up. (?)
Twenty-five was, quite honestly, not my most favorite year on this earth, but I certainly had some great times.  As I looked back over the past year, I happened to stumble upon (a list, imagine that):
25 Great Things that Happened While I was 25 (in no particular order):
1.  I was taught not to pick through my food and eliminate everything I think I don't want or like.  I know this sounds incredibly rude and childish, but I have always been one of those people who would dig through food with my fork and move things I didn't want to the side of my plate (or, if it was a rehearsal dinner and I happened to be six years old, put the unwanted items on my salad... in my napkin, but that's a story for another day).  I did it with all kinds of things:  pickles in chicken salad; celery in chicken salad; tomatoes in rotel; pickles in potato salad; onions in quesadillas; oranges in fruit salad; and so on and so on.  However, this year I was taught by a very good friend (and foodie... thanks, Ben) of mine to just eat it how it was prepared.  As Ben told me, it's immature and gross to pick things out of my food, and the flavors were meant to be eaten together, anway.  So, when I was served a piece of pork loin with a slice of grapefruit resting on top of it (I loathe grapefruit), I ate it.  And what do you know, Ben was right.  Hmph.
2.  I visited Charleston and had the most amazing time in a gorgeous city with one of my closest friends.  Although it was hot as blue blazes, we saw so much of the city and soaked up more history than I ever imagined. 

3.  I discovered how life-changing listening to hymns can be.  During my mom's knee surgery and recovery, I had some tough times where I was really, really scared and wasn't sure where to turn.  Sometimes the only way I could fall asleep was listening to this one really great CD of hymns I had downloaded, and I can't describe to you the comfort that those old familiar tunes provided me.

4.  I welcomed fro-yo back into my life.  Since my visit to Dallas in March, I've eaten frozen yogurt all over the southeast, and I could not be more excited about it.  I'm not sure where fro-yo went for awhile, but I sure am glad it's back.

5.  I went to Merigold, Mississippi, and spent a day at McCarty.  I'm not sure why, but I absolutely despised my mother dragging me over there when I was a child.  I didn't like the food they served in the restaurant; there were breakable items everywhere, so I was constantly being told to be careful; it seemed like the trip took about a million years and we ended up in the middle of nowhere, just to look at pottery and turn around to go home.  Fast-forward about fifteen or so years, however, and I love everything about it.  
6.  I went to Chicago with two of my closest friends and had one of the best trips of my life.  We at amazing food at restaurants like North Pond and Topolobampo; we walked along the Chicago River; we watched over the city from the bar on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building.  I fell in love with the city and absolutely cannot wait to go back.

7.  I realized how much I love the force that is Jimmy Fallon.  I haven't been able to watch him nearly as much since I started working this year, but last spring I couldn't have stopped watching Jimmy if my apartment had been burning down around me, I don't think.  I love him (and all his silly, ridiculous antics) so very much, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to jump on this bandwagon.

8.  I gambled (and won pretty big!!) for the first time.  That's right... the first time ever.  In fact, I had never even been in a casino before.  I had a pretty great time at the roulette table, though, and I hope I won't wait twenty-five more years before I go back and try it again.

9.  I attended some fun, fun friends' weddings.  I mean, my friends know how to throw some seriously fun parties.  I laughed, I danced, I sample the fare, I tossed rose petals and lit sparklers, and I wouldn't have missed a minute of it.

10.  I joined my first grown-up, legitimate tailgate.  All through college, post-college, and even my first two years of grad school, I was a migrant.  A wanderer without a place to call my own.  Until this football season, that is, when the Virtual Tailgate came into my life.  It was so amazing to have a central location and a place to put all my stuff and a place to go when my phone wouldn't work and I couldn't get anyone on the phone.  Wandering is fun for awhile, but sometimes it's nice to just chill out in your own space.

11.  I got close with my hometown girlfriends again.  It has been my honor over these past few years to spend time with so many of these friends I hadn't been as close to during college.  A number of them live in Columbus or close by, so I've gotten to see them more often and keep a much closer tab on what's going on in their lives.  I'm so thankful to have a wonderful group of friends who I've known and been close to for so long.
12.  I cut 14" off of my hair for Locks of Love.  I didn't cut my hair for about a year-and-a-half, and, before I knew it, it was ridiculously long and I could donate it to this wonderful cause.  I never thought my hair would be long enough to donate, so I was thrilled to be able to be a part of such a special organization.
13.  I saw John Mayer in concert again.  I know this may not sound like much to some people, but I love John Mayer.  And even more than I love John Mayer... I love John Mayer in concert.  I had such a wonderful time listening to his chill music, and I was so glad Lindsey fell in love with his music, too.  Say what you want about him personally, but the man can sing.

14.  I got a pen pal.  I had been wanting a pen pal for years but wasn't sure how to ever go about finding and keeping one (and making sure he or she wasn't some creepster).  This year, however, I found one, and I am so glad.  Getting letters in the mail is such a great feeling, and I have fun writing to someone who doesn't know every last detail of my life.
15.  I saw Jerry Seinfeld's comedy show... and I laughed for an hour-and-a-half straight.  The man is just as hilarious as you might imagine, and I hope sometime in my life I'll have the chance to see him again.  He blew onto the stage like a hurricane and pretty much talked non-stop the entire time he was there.  When it was over, he blew off the stage, and I wondered if he'd ever really been there at all.  I think he had...
16.  I read some literary classics, including The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, The Grapes of Wrath, Fahrenheit 451, Rebecca, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1984, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, and (currently) I, Claudius.  I have to admit, I'm a little bit proud of my literary endeavors, but don't let these big titles fool you.  I read my fair share of chick lit and senseless dribble, too.
17.  I had an amazing trip to Dallas.  I'm not sure if I've ever had so much fun, laughter, good food, insanity, and craziness as I had on that trip.  It was seriously one for the record books, ending in driving home in about 6 or so inches of snow (which no one had brought appropriate clothes for, of course).  This was one of those kind of random, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants trips that I'm usually too structured to endure, but I'm so glad I was able to chill out and go with the flow on this one.

18.  I worked 648.75 hours toward my Master's internship.  I don't graduate until April, and I have to keep working until May, but it feels so good to see that numer and know that, from now on, we're on the downhill slope.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job and my schools and the people I work with, but it will surely be nice to be graduated and gainfully employed in the very near future.  I need that money, honey!!
19.  My mom successfully completed her second knee replacement.  Knowing that both of these surgeries are behind us is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, and I am so thankful God brought both my mom and I through these procedures with strength and dignity and compassion and faith.  This time last year, I was petrified when I thought of the second surgery looming ahead, and I never could have made it through without God's unyielding strength.
20.  I finally gave in and ate my veggies... and loved them.  I have never been a big vegetable lover, but, over this past year, I made a conscious effort to try to give them a chance, and I am so glad I did.  Squash, spinach, tomatoes, corn, green beans... I never would have touched them before, but now I'm a big fan.  My mom kept saying I should give them a chance, and I guess she was right.  Man, I hate when she's right.

21.  I saw the Black Eyed Peas in concert in Dallas.  I may sound silly when I say this, but if you've seen them then you understand... best concert ever.  I mean, seriously... I was blown away.  Ludicrous opened for them, the Peas shut the place down... it was INSANE.  I'm hoping the release of a new album means they'll be going on tour again soon. 

22.  I saw some great (and some not so great) movies, both old and new.  I love the movies.  I don't like to go too long without seeing one in the theater, and I am always trying to watch old ones I've never seen before.  
23.  I fell in love with the Olympics.  Seriously, I could not tear myself away from the Vancouver Winter Olympics.  I have never been like that before, and I have no idea what came over me.  I watched every event that came on; I knew the athletes names and their backstories; I basically sat on my couch and cried for two weeks straight.  I don't think it was a fluke, either... I think I'm a newfound Olympic addict.

24.  I saw some wonderful Broadway shows like Jersey Boys, South Pacific, Chicago, and Wicked.  I am so glad to live so close to Memphis, where the Orpheum Theater gets such an amazing Broadway line-up every year.  I've seen so many wonderful shows there.
25.  Finally, I booked my NKOTBSB tickets (New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys... fyi) for Chicago this summer.  I could not be more excited about this awesome, awesome concert in one of my favorite cities with some of my most favorite people.  When I think long and hard about it, sometimes it's just too much... I just get too excited.  I am so glad my friends put up with my crazy phone calls/texts/emails to frantically get these tickets booked in a matter of minutes.

So there you have it, my year in review.  Like I said, twenty-five wasn't my favorite year of all time, but it certainly had its highlights.  I'm ready and waiting to see what twenty-six has in store for me.