25

A friend once told me she had a hard time with 25. The once independent, self-sufficient woman found herself still single while everyone around her was marrying and starting their own families. So I was a little nervous about the number myself. And maybe that will be me at 26, but so far 25 feels good. And the majority of my friends are married and starting families, including the friend I mentioned above, but I’m not sad that’s not me. Sure, I wonder if their kids will be too old to play with mine someday or if we’ll ever feel at the same place again. But I am where I am right now .. and I like it. I sometimes hope that my contentment with singleness doesn’t mean it’s going to last too much longer, but it’s out of my hands.

I’m so glad that I didn’t just stay in an OK job and wait for some guy to come along so I could settle down and have babies. I used to want that . . because I didn’t know what the other option was. I didn’t have a clue what job would make me happy. . what job would utilize my abilities and give me a sense that I was contributing to something important. I discovered that is what I really wanted, though . . to do it on my own first. To be a part of something big. Something big can be different for everyone, I suppose, but for me this is it.

Being away from home, I didn’t have high expectations for my birthday, but even if I had, I wouldn’t have been disappointed. I received:
- an early morning voicemail from my friend singing me ‘Happy Birthday’,
- e-cards and phone calls throughout the day,
- a huge, gorgeous bouquet of flowers that even the men in my office have been admiring,
- my favorite breakfast sandwich delivered to me by New Girl
- birthday recognition at my business lunch (which I was not excited about, because Asian food is not my favorite)

Leigh had sent an Evite out to my favorite co-workers (4 of them) to have dinner at a new restaurant I’d been wanting to try on the waterfront, called Agraria. Much to my surprise, not only did they all come, but they brought gifts! Leigh got me a cute cable knit sweater from GAP, New Girl bought the most delicious smelling bath products, Vanderbilt bought me a set of stemware from Pottery Barn, and Rochester . . well, he stealthily picked up the tab, which Holy Crap! was at least $400! I mean, we had to have our Italian still water and 3 bottles of South African Chardonnay. And I had to have the ribeye I’d been craving and those delicous mouth-watering heirloom tomatoes to start. But, whoa, had we known he was going to do that, we would not have ordered all of that. He is so great. He is such a generous person like that. He spends no money on himself, but treats people all the time.

(Side note: I know I haven’t mentioned him in awhile, but platonically things are going along great. I have decided that we shouldn’t spend time alone as that will only lead to attachment which is obviously not healthy since it’s not going anywhere. There: the two-second update.)

Ooh, I also received a beautiful black opal necklace from my parents and Uptown Grandma, while Farmtown Grandma gave me money that I put towards a new red leather purse (FYI: red is “in” this Fall).

Tonight, my roommates/Bible study girls and I are going to dinner. EB, who I share a room with, actually shares my birthday! How crazy is that??