24

I am a person who loves birthdays. I have always loved birthdays. I had two parents who made sure that even if there wasn't a lot of money floating around for My Size Barbies or those cars that operated by what had to be a beast of a battery and that a small child could actually drive, my Mom and Dad made sure that I knew it was my special day.
Thankfully, I didn't become a self-centered birthday basher. I love celebrating other people's birthdays, too. There have been themed tea-parties and black and white affairs, dinners out on the town, Vineyard excursions, and girls' nights out.Any roommate of mine know that I adore getting and opening birthday cards, and I relish watching others open their little masterpieces by Hallmark or Papyrus.

September has now rolled around and I still find myself eagerly anticipating the 29th. On that day, I will celebrate reaching the ripe old age of 24. 24 feels different. It sounds older. Age 20 marks finally getting out of your teens. At 21, you can legally drink. 22 was still college-aged and 23 was not only the age where nobody likes you (thanks to Blink-182), but also is that first year, usually, that you are thrust into the "real world," praying that you learned something useful for survival in college. 24 is different.

24 is almost mid-twenties. It is the age of most characters in popular movies or books, who are out in the world, making something of themselves. 24 seems like you have finally come into your own and are at least starting to figure out who you truly are and who you want to be, where you want to be, and how you want to occupy your time. Even if you are not quite doing exactly what you want, you probably have an idea.

Maybe I am yet naive and don't know what I am talking about. I do still have 27 days to go...however, I feel like I might be on to something. I am looking forward to turning nearly a quarter of a century old and still am getting excited to open birthday cards, though I know there will be less glitter and sparkles than there were 10 or 15 years ago. So 24, bring it. I am ready.