While I wrote this and meant to post it on my 24th birthday, it had a few holes that I haven't had time to fill in until today. I was tempted to write something interesting from each of the 24 hours of my 24th birthday, but seeing as I was asleep for the first 9 of them, it would have been a really dull post. Instead, here are 24 Moments from my 24th year. Six Firsts in Spring1. I bought my first "house". It is a one bedroom condo that I have thoroughly enjoyed nesting.
2. This was the first year in 20 years that I wasn't a full-time student. I've decided I really miss being a student and often wonder why college preps you as a freshman for college life, but it rarely gives you any real prepping for life after college. Getting a job is not as easy as showing off your degree.
3. I was all packed to move to Korea to teach English for a year, but somehow my papers got "stuck" in the mail. They showed up just after my school dropped my contract. It all turned out to be a good thing later in the year as I was needed at home.
4. I was actually paid to write an entire book. I find fiction is easier to produce by leaps and bounds than nonfiction. Research makes the process 5 times longer.
5.I had my first two house-guests in two consecutive weeks, and realized my love for hosting people in my home.
6. Early in spring we had a freak hailstorm that smashed out the back windshield on my corolla. It hit so hard that I'm still finding glass chunks lodged between my dashboard and the FRONT windshield of my car. My floorboards were flooded with water. Although Michelle and Mom risked several cuts to their fingers trying to rescue the books in my backseat, several were lost due to water damage including my favorite The Count of Monte Cristo.
Six Firsts of Summer7. I adopted a spunky Cocker Spaniel named Sophie. Finding, adopting, and nurturing her as my own really taught me some valuable lessons about God's grace toward me.
8. I spent many hours researching WWII Naval history, and probably will keep a strong loyalty to the Navy from here forward. I kind of bonded with my dad talking about all my research and hearing about his take on the Navy from his experiences in Vietnam.
9. I learned how stubborn Cocker Spaniels can be when housebreaking.
10. Michelle and I took our dad to Kemah to go sailing for a weekend for his 57th birthday. It was a really great trip that I'll never forget.
11. I took up ballroom dancing.
12. I went berry picking for the first time ever. I had more blueberries and blackberries than I knew what to do with.
Firsts of Fall13. I fell for John Ross VI and his big heart.
14. I took a month of lessons to learn the Foxtrot and loved it!
15. I learned to ride a four-wheeler for the first time, hit a tree, fell off, and jumped back on, barely missing the creek bank.
16. I went to NYC for the first time to visit Kacy. We had some great times shopping for her baby, eating pastries and pizza in Little Italy, having brunch at a teahouse, visiting the met, and hearing the crow of a rooster all hours of the day somewhere below her 12th floor walkup.
17. I decorated my first tree of my own an entire month early out of excitement.
18. Dad passed away from his cancer the night after Thanksgiving (In fact, one month from my birthday.) Everyday I remember things about him that were really special, and I feel so lucky to have had such a close relationship with him.
Six fun holiday moments19. Mom squashed a bug in the garage with a phonebook. Please note that the bug was outside, and she still squashed it.
20. I caught Sophie licking the magenta colored paint off of the sewing cabinet I had been working on all day for Michelle's Christmas present.
21. Mom gave me a butcher knife in my stocking. I'm not sure what she's trying to tell me.
22. On Christmas Eve I had curry at the Ross house. To abate the spiciness you add sliced bananas on top. It reminded me of Malaysia and was surprisingly good.
23. Also at that same gathering, a gaggle of Ross family members gathered around me to watch (only) me open presents. It was a weird but touching moment.
24. I made a gingerbread house for the first time! John and I make great food architects, however his sister Catherine had something of a "house built on the sand" effect. Her walls fell in and the roof slid off in less than five minutes. It was festive in the sense that it looked like an icing avalanche demolished her little house.
Comments (1)
You are absolutely lovely. I've fallen for you and your compassion for people and love for those in need.
Yes, you shine brighter than Polaris. Your arms reach further than the tallest Sequoia or Redwood.
Always- JBR VI