“Happy Birthday, old lady.”  Yep, Mr. Hallmark knows the way right to my heart.  It’s in his sweet, subtle tones, the always heartfelt, never sarcastic voice that tells me that he loves me, by, you know, telling me I’m old as he greets me good morning on my twenty eighth birthday.  It’s strange, but as a child I never imagined myself ever aging beyond 21.  Sure, I pictured a life with my own family one day, but I really only thought of it in terms of what came with the new number.  I associated age with the next best thing, the number that would provide me with the most adult-like experiences, which I perceived to be better than the ones I would have as a kid.  Now that I am an adult, however, I don’t find myself wishing for that number to grow at all.  In fact, I’ve dreaded becoming closer and closer to thirty since I was 22.  But, can’t age still be the next best thing?  Today, as I sit here one year older, and one year closer to 30, I’m convinced that it can.   I have so much I’m looking forward to in this life and how silly is it to dread aging, when aging itself means I’ve had the opportunity to LIVE one year longer on this earth and hopefully become a better person as a result.  But, why, then, is aging thought to be such a negative thing in our society?  Why are we valued less when we’ve become more?

Does age really determine something about who we are or what we should be doing at this point in our lives?  For me, 30 always symbolized a place in life that I thought I needed to be.  I needed to have it all sorted out, be a well adjusted, happily married, mother by 30 OR ELSE.  Or else what?  Why was 30 the magic number for me?  What made me think that at 30 years of age I had to have it all figured out?  When I look at all the people I truly admire, I realize they never have it all completely figured out.  They always remain open and flexible to learning more and becoming better person.  And, though their years may bring a distinct wisdom, they are not old.  In fact, I see a child like youth in them that I only hope I have even just a fraction of.  The question for them seems to be not how old are you but how old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?  And, that, is how I want to live my 29th and every year on this earth.  Living the questions and trying to make this world a better place in any small way I can.

So, in honor of my twenty eighth birthday, here are 28 little tidbits about me.

1.  I love love and learned so much about it from my Mom & Dad.

2.  Mr. Hallmark is my very best friend in the entire world and I can’t imagine life without him.

3.  Family is the most important thing in my life.

4.  If I could be anywhere, it would be on the beach under the sun with those I love most.

5.  I have a love hate relationship with New York City.

5.  I love old houses.  L.O.V.E

6.  Taking pictures of emotion and freezing them in time makes me happy.

7.  I love Del Taco (a fast food chain in California) and have withdrawals on an almost daily basis.

8.  Sophie makes me smile every single day and I feel lucky to experience such joy.

9.  I can’t wait to have a family with Mr. Hallmark.

10.  I consume far too much Diet Dr. Pepper.

11.  I love being an aunt to my 12 nieces and nephews more than I can ever say.

12.  I love all things vintage/modern.

13.  I can’t believe how much things can change or stay the same if you let them.

14.  I want to live in a foreign country before I die.

15.  My favorite quote: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

16.  I am unbelievably blessed.

17.  I believe  heart to hearts are a great gift.

18.  The sound of rain makes me happy, even though I hate rain itself.

19.  I love to laugh and Will Ferrell does it for me every time.

20.  I love scents tied to memory.

21.  Mexican food is by far my favorite, though Mr. Hallmark claims burritos and enchiladas don’t really count.

22.  I heart chick flicks and anything with romance far too much.

23.  I am incredibly nonathletic.  So much so that I’ve had many people tell me they’d pay money to watch me attempt to play anything and not fall on my face.

24.  I will do anything for the people I love.

25.  I love my job.  SO much.

26.  I love traditions.

27.  I am extremely sensitive.  This can be a great and a horrible characteristic to have.

28.  I love life and learning.