“I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”
Oscar Wilde quote
He never said simplest wasn't attainable!! I am starting to agree with my mom on this birthday thing- you have to make it your own, especially if your expectations are like ours. First of all- notice how my birthday blog was allll about mothers day. But I can't say anything, because I normally make it all about me, and will continue to do so. I always turn a year older after finals, and year after year it's become more and more uneventful. My family does birthdays right- but it's not much fun getting older once your past 17.
When I was little, I had many questions of heaven, and I wanted to know exactly what it would be like- down to what age I would be when I got up there. Of course my mom said that I could choose that, something that I have continued to hold to be true. So when I was younger- that age was 7- carefree, yet still the boss of my siblings, and minimal responsibilities (no dishwasher duty yet). My desired heaven age stayed 7 for a while, until I turned 17 (Who knew I was a biblical numerologist at such a young age?). 17 was and still is the perfect age to be in Heaven.
But why stop there?
If my mom can make her own party all week/month long for her birthday, why can't I turn 17? Blondes? - Hell- 17 year olds have more fun, and being a blonde 17 year old also helped. I'm not sure what it was that I remember loving so much, but being 17, especially that 17 year old summer, seems to be the best time of my life. The birthday itself was uneventful, but even more reason to re-do that this year. Now I will REALLY know how to make the most of my 17th year of life.
17 Reasons why I will be turning 17 (again) this year
1. Well-rounded education: I miss high school, there's too much concentration with this whole MBA/JD thing. I wanna go back to calculus, english, chemistry and just learn the skim part off the top of the subjects. This masters/doctorate thing is digging a lil' too deep for me. Instead of stressing out to much like I did in high school, I would listen intently to my teachers and learn without the stress of cramming for tests- a 98 is still an A.
2. Tennis: This was the height of my sports-team playing ability. I had never been part of a team like I had when I was on a varsity sport in high school. I enjoyed the mandatory play every day. Sure I work out very often now, but it's on my own time, and not required by class or coach.
3. Boys: Man, if you knew me back when I was 17, you would understand why all of my best friends are guys. 17 year old boys are the most fun people to be around... ever.
4. High School: Alright I didn't like high school all that much, but there is no other time that you are going to get to truly be involved in friday night lights and pep rallies and homecomings. How I miss Friday night football games and mingling around the stadium talking to my band friends, my chemistry friends, my too-cool-for-me friends, my tennis friends, etc.
5. Naivete: I had never had a drop of alcohol at 17, never seen an R rated movie, and had barely kissed a boy. I miss the Naivete real bad. Sure it might seem amish to revert back now, but Scarlett O'hara played up the naivete real well and we all know hers was fake too!
6. Wearing Abercrombie & Fitch : Just after I stopped wearing "mommy" outfits and before I started wearing "mommy" clothes again, I entered into my normal 17 year old girl Abercrombie stage- although I mostly had to wear litttle "a" abercrombie, for kids. As my mother always said, you don't have that body for long baby, show those legs. So maybe for my birthday I will don the pleated two inch skirts once again and the tanks with the built-in-bras (because I didn't need one & still don't).
7. Forgetting I have siblings- I never remember anyways, but especially at 17 the world was ALL about me.
8. Meeting the parents: I miss going over to peoples houses and meeting and chatting with everyones parents. Most kids are on their best behavior in front of their parents, I wish we still all had that accountability.
9. Repeat College: Now I could re-do baylor, which is the second best period of my life. Who wouldn't want that? I would still probably do all the same things, just study less and have more fun. which is what my mother told me in the first place
10. Hyatt Hill Country- Our families favorite vacation spot was a very good memory every year of our 15 plus years of attendance, but especially 17.
11. Panther patrol- cheerleading sans the flips and coordination, perfect for me.
12. Academic UIL- I loved being a geek in high school, and if traveling with an academic team to meets was how I wanted to display it, then so be it. I also loved having those friends that I couldn't meet anywhere else, that would teach me about all the nerdiest things you can think of. I do so love to be out-nerdied.
13. "At Seventeen"- It would match the wonderful song by Janis Ian. This is one of my favorite songs to listen to when feeling sorry for myself.
14. Car-tagging: Although most people say that car-tagging/ shoe polishing was their least favorite part of being a high school football player or cool person. I LOVED when my car was tagged... once. I knew you had to be loved for someone to write "HAWTTTIEEE" on the front of your car windshield and then circle where your face would be. So I thought I was cool- real cooooll.
15. Listening to pop music without being judged- All of my mixes were so bubble gum- I loved it- everything I listened to was happy and reminded me of summer. The summer of 2003.
16. 17 year olds have the best bodies. No- not me, at 24 (going on 17) I'm in the best shape of my life right now, but 17 year old boys have the best dang bodies I've ever seen. I remember all of my guy friends who sprouted 6-packs over night, and who now have beer guts. But man when they were 17....dammnnn. And what's not fun about looking at that?
17. Seventeen year old birthday weren't about what you got or where your friends took you, it was about how they treated you and what they did for you to make you feel special. I remember getting a picnic with a boyfriend and homemade cards from friends that I still have. Even the greetings in the halls were a wonderful birthday celebration.
And if simply declaring it won't work (which it usually does), I will simply demand to "freaky friday" with my sister, the closest 17 year old for the moment.
Hey its Blake.... So I stumbled on this, and have to say you are a dork... Have been since I have known you, but what makes us different makes us interesting (its a good thing). Seriously that was pretty entertaining, almost had me feeling nostalgic. Hope all is well, and law school isn't killing you...
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