23
So, today is my birthday.
I made a purple cake. It's just a little bit hideous, but still much better than some cakes I've been in on.
I'm sorry I've once again become a slacker with the site. I've been struggling to get through the semester. It was a particularly difficult one; over 20% of the class failed. (And we're seniors!) I made out with a B, which is fine, but wow, I'm very tired. I only have a week off, and then I have to get back to summer semester. Then it's going to be even crazier up until the very moment I graduate.
Earlier this month I got a new journal from Aunt Myra for my birthday. She is always great about sending us a little something. I started writing in it immediately, and have experimented with keeping detailed entries on my daily life. Just, whatever thoughts occur to me. (I'm sure I'd do that with a blog if I had some kind of personal electronic publishing device--more advanced than a phone--but I'm not quite that hip yet). So far I've collected some amusing and bizarre snippets of thought. Example: "What if Jesus had healed leopards instead of lepers? Or, better yet: what if there was a mistake and somehow a scene of Jesus and some leopards was painted in a church? Such as the Sistene Chapel? That would be awesome."
Without journals, weird ideas like that would be lost.
I have a shelf full of the things, you know. And they've been really good for me; I have a modest history of ideas and events from the last 8 years or so. My sister's last day of highschool is Thursday, so I pulled out the journal I used between March and May of my own senior year. I read to her the final entries... the things I was thinking about as my own highschool experience was ending. I think she appreciated it. I think she enjoyed learning what it was like for me. I enjoyed learning too.
So many big changes coming up for everyone. Lara's going to ULM, I'll graduate from NSU in August, Sarah's going to grad school in Wisconsin, Chris is moving to Denver, Rachel is going to have a baby in October. I guess we're adults now? I know I
feel like an adult... but it's odd to think that people won't be coming home here as much anymore, that home will be elsewhere. My home will be elsewhere too before I know it. I'm ready, but I can't help but spare a glance back through the doorway into the room I'm leaving.
There are 23 candles on my cake today. Is it the fire, or the food, or the calendar date that gives us a chance for wishes? I will confess, my friends, I made my wish for all of you. I wished that our futures would be clear and bright as crystal, and that we would remain true to ourselves no matter where life took us. I wished for everyone to be happy.
I know I'm happy.
