Happy Birthday to Me

The passing of a year happens so quietly.

At midnight... a year ends, most often without notice.

There is no fanfare, no shouts of joy, not even tears of sadness for the time passed. It passes and I am suddenly older.

Tonight, at midnight, a year will have officially passed. And I will be a year older. 27.

So many things have happened in those 27 years.

- I was born.

- I learned to walk.

- I cracked my head open.

- I learned to ride a bike.

- I started my education, a journey I am still (and will forever be) taking.

- I wrote my first poem.

- I played outside all day with my sisters.

- I made mudpies.

- I skinned my knees playing football at recess.

- I had my first crush.

- I cut my sister's hair...more than once

- I fought with my siblings.

- I learned to whistle.

- I developed a creative mind.

- I played Alice, in the school play, "Alice in Wonderland."

- I learned to play the cello, the bass and the piano.

- I experienced my first kiss.

- I experienced my first heartbreak.

- I went to my first day of high school.

- I went to my first sporting event.

- I went to prom.

- I fell in love.

- I learned to drive.

- I got my first job.

- I played in my first concert.

- I made great friends.

- I went to Mexico...I fell in love with Mexico.

- I lost everything I owned in a house fire.

- I graduated from high school.

- I fell in love again.

- I moved away from home.

- I stayed out way too late.

- I got engaged.

- I got married.

- I started college.

- I got pregnant.

- I had a baby.

- I found out my mom had cancer.

- I moved back home, to be with my mom.

- I watched my mom's body give out on her.

- I threw my baby's first birthday party.

- I held my mom's hand, as she passed away.

- I cried.

- I fought with my husband.

- I cried again.

- I felt lonely.

- I started a workout program with my sister.

- I planted a garden.

- I got pregnant again.

- I moved back to Utah.

- I had another baby.

- I laid tile in our condo.

- I had my little brother come live with me.

- I found out who my brother is.

- I stayed up late and talked with my brother, I laughed.

- I made stockings for my kids.

- I made Easter dresses.

- I sat on the floor and read my kids stories.

- I fell in love with photography.

- I got pregnant again, for the last time.

- I decided to go back to school.

- I went to family reunions.

- I gained more weight than I would ever want to.

- I started back at school.

- I fell in love with learning.

- I had my third baby in the middle of the semester.

- My dad remarried.

- I missed my mom.

- I pulled off straight A's.

- I was betrayed by the one I loved.

- I started writing for the school paper.

- I fell in love with writing, all over again.

- I dropped my brother off at the MTC.

- I became an assistant editor.

- I pulled off straight A's again.

- I turned 26.

- I moved out of my husband's bedroom.

- I felt invisible.

- I became news editor for the school paper.

- I dove into therapy.

- I made friends.

- I started the fall semester.

- I started a workout program, that actually worked.

- I went to Kentucky.

- I filed for divorce.

- I was divorced 9 days after filing.

- My heart was broken again.

- I felt lonely again.

- I started dating.

- I made stupid decisions.

- I kissed a boy.

- I moved into my own place, for the first time in my life.

- I smiled.

- I laughed.

- I started to feel like a human again.

- I lost 35 pounds.

- I applied to be Editor-in-chief of the school paper.

- I became Editor-in-chief of the school paper.

- I went to New York City.

- I experienced the greatest city on earth.

- I ate lunch in the New York Times cafeteria.

- I miss New York almost every day, since I got back.

- I fought with friends.

- I repaired friendships.

- I dated some more.

- I pulled off straight A's again...against all odds.

- I conceived a huge dream for the school paper.

- I saw my dear friend graduate from college.

- I fell in love again.

- I experienced four weeks of magic.

- I got my own office.

- I experienced heartbreak again.

- I made a great friend, that I hope to have for the rest of my life.

- I started an internship at a major newspaper in Utah, the Deseret News.

- I rode the bus for the first time, in ten years.

- I went to sleep on the eve of my birthday.

- I will turn 27, tomorrow.

- I will accomplish greatness.

- I will be ... I am ... incredibly happy, with all I have done, and all I will do.

Happy Birthday Andrea.