21 and LOVING it!!

I am 21!! I have waited for this day, not because I want to booze it up legally, but because I am ready to be officially an adult.

I had the greatest day ever! I woke up late, no commitments... I showered and got ready around 1 and was happy to hear from my dear friend Savannah. She was still in town and would be leaving this weekend, so today, my birthday, was the the perfect time to have one last meet up before she headed back to Austin for school. I was still getting ready, so she decided to prepare a large loaf of pumpkin bread for me for my birthday. After a while, the bread was ready, so we could head out to go get coffee and chat while it cooled.

We met at Starbucks and got coffee, her treat, and we sat and talked while waiting for Jamie to join us. After talking for a while, we went to Savannah's house to get the bread, so that I could head back to the apartment to meet up with my parents.

I arrived at the apartment to be greeted by my loving parents and brother. They had a large bag full of gifts and a couple of boxes as well. My mom is so clever in figuring out a way to get me 21 gifts for my 21st, haha. A set of mini alcohol samples, a hangover kit, a "concealed alcohol" bottle, an I-O-U coupon booklet, a 'believe' stone, a personalized martini glass with gum and mints, a crock pot, a casserole cookbook, a hidden compartment book, and the greatest gift of all: my grandmother's mini .22 magnum revolver. Grandpa had given it to my mom and had told her to give it to me when she thought I was ready. He had told me days before, that I could have it when I got my CHL, which coincidentally Joey had given to me as a birthday gift -a 10 hr course on January 22. It was the most meaningful and perfect gift I have ever received.

I opened my gifts and Joey had come home and changed and we left to the restaurant. Headed to Uncle Julio's for my birthday dinner and to meet Rachel and Brad, I soaked in how lucky I was. I was really happy to have Rachel and Brad there with us, and I wish that we could have had Chelsea and Russel there, but they had class.

We ordered drinks, and my first official alcoholic beverage as a 21 year old. We enjoyed laughter, conversation, and a wonderful meal. I finished off two sangria swirls and opened Rachel's gift with more mini alcohol samples and a cocktail recipe book. Overall a wonderful evening!!

I couldn't ask for better friends, and I have learned already this year that things can not be expected and it is easy to get sidetracked and act selfishly without realizing it. I am going to accept things as they are and stop trying to make everything perfect and expect perfection from people. I am thankful for my friendships, even if sometimes they don't seem to be as I want them, they always end up better than I could have imagined. Joey is not perfect, but who is? I appreciate all that he has done for me and cannot imagine a love more pure.