Birthdays. I love them. There is one day a year that is set aside for the celebration of you (even Harry Potter, when he was alone and depressed, sang to himself to celebrate). Valentine’s day celebrates love, Thanksgiving celebrates gratitude, Christmas celebrates a variety of things based on personal beliefs, and birthdays celebrate the individuality and importance of a single person. It marks the movement of time and reminds us to Carpe Diem!
I feel 21. For some reason I only seem to age on particular birthdays. Before 21, I was still 18. Crazy? Maybe. Birthdays other years don’t really seem to change much, but at 18, all of a sudden you are an adult (granted still a young adult). Suddenly, you are considered competent enough to cast your vote in order to influence the future of your government, responsible enough to buy cigarettes/superglue/spray paint, mature enough to see/purchase porn, accountable for all legal actions in a court of law, and just grown-up enough to fight in a war. Boom! Even if you choose not to partake in all of these newfound freedoms, the difference is still there and tangible. Then nothing changes as you age for two more years, until you reach 21. Honestly, the only thing that really changes when you turn 21 is the ability to have and/or consume alcohol legally. Alcohol has always had little to no role in my life due to my family, friends, and personal choices. So why does being 21 make me feel older, especially considering I’m already in a country where I am way over the legal drinking age? Again, I think it is the new power that comes with the age. I have yet to figure out if it is the power I give it or it’s legal inherent power.
Okay, I need to move on. Life. So for my birthday my wonderful flatmate Katie made me a Nutella Cheesecake!!! It was heaven on earth. It was a fun evening full of food, chocolate, and friends.
But the fun was not meant to last. The next week was midterms week, which meant literally every single free second I had was spent in the studio painting (10 hours a day!) or (when the studio closed) at home studying. The apartment was very quiet and studious all week long. As a reward for a week of cracking down, Italy decided to celebrate with us! The Thursday of midterms (also St. Patty’s day) was the 150th anniversary for the unification of North and South Italy, kind of like our July 4th, except they don’t celebrate it every year. It was a spontaneous holiday! So we went out and saw fireworks get shot off the top of the Palazzo Vecchio and see Italy go crazy with patriotism.
So, in conclusion, I love birthdays.
Next posts to come: Spring break 2011!
Songs of the Posts: “Stop this Train” by John Mayer, and “Blame It (on the Alcohol)” performed in Glee (but originally by Jamie Foxx)
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