birthdays and such..

Ah. the Birthday. Comes but once a year. And while the occasional half-birthday celebration can be fun, I don't partake too often. So...my friends know that I like my birthday. I like it a lot. It's perched at the beginning of Spring, and it's just such a perfect day. April 3rd. Perfect day to be born. 3 is just such a good number. And since I can remember, my mom has always gone well out of her way to make sure her little baby cream-pop had the most magical day. For example, when I turned 17, she blasted ABBA'S "Dancing Queen" on our totable boom box at six a.m. and danced me (and possibly the neighbors) awake before the school day..She couldn't wait for me to open my beautifully wrapped gifts, pour me some fresh squeezed, and kiss me on my way.  

It all just felt so good back then. Getting older was exciting. It was riveting even! But now, flash forward eleven years.  These past three birthdays... not so much? And not in the 'oh no i'm getting older' sense. But in the 'oh no i'm getting older, and nothing has changed!' sense...well that's not entirely true. Good people have passed away, happy couples have honeymooned, and little babies have crawled. But not for me. When my mom was my age (28, my friends).. she was married to her 2nd husband, and really beginning the life she had wanted to live. I'm not sure if my mom ever knew what she wanted, but I think she got it for the most part.  I guess I'm beginning to wonder what I want for myself. Or if I want anything at all? Or the scary part, if I'll ever get any of it...

Well, this past birthday weekend *yes, I gave myself the whole weekend, was pretty outstanding. I decided not to make any concrete party plans, and just go with the flow. There was sort of an outline, but definitely no birthday itinerary. Friday night, my friend TJ took me out and about the 'burg. We tasted wonderful food, and drank merrily, capping off the night with date cake at Moto. YES! I then had a Saturday morning workout in Ft. Greene, and took myself to brunch after that. I like to do that sometimes. Go out and eat a meal solo style. And then after a good scrub down of my apartment, MAGGIE CAME! Maggie is one of my dear college roommates, who has turned out to be a wonderful friend through out the years. We just haven't gotten to see enough of each other! But we had a great time meandering around the neighborhood all day, enjoying the last outstretched arms of sunlight before he said bye bye and hid behind the clouds.. 

And so into the night we went : great dinner at Rye, impromptu street art purchasing, and all around lower Manhattan Saturday night madness. Our other dear friend Christina joined up with us later, and ended up driving us back over the bridge into Williamsburg. Ah, sweet borough. I loved exiting Manahattan. All was much calmer. We three stopped at the best diner in the world for some late night fare. Well, actually, early morning birthday fare. 

And then, on Sunday afternoon, after saying bye to the college gals, I was treated to a matinee of "Anything Goes"  by my dear friend Heath. The show was just the perfect  birthday blend of tap dancing frothiness and musical delight. I smiled the whole time. Heath and I then hit up Aureole for a cocktail and some major couture bites of food. I so loved my afternoon with Heath. He is a true Texas gift in my life. xoxoxo to you Heathy baby!!

But then, my birthday still wasn't over! I had to rush home for my birthday dinner! My wonderful roommate and now darling friend Steph, made the most amazing meal for me, Colin, Steph's sister Anne Julia, and our neighbor Bryce. Salmon with fresh dill and creme fresh, roasted fennel, and to top it all off - a home made carrot cake with the best damn cream cheese frosting... I was in hog heaven. I can't even begin to express how lovely and kind that was of her. She's such a busy, hard working gal, and for her to do this--- I was just touched. I Love you Steph!

The beautiful Maggie.

view from Williamsburg river front. sparkly.

every girl should have a birthday banana split at the Kellogg Diner with her buddies at 2:30 am. 

the marvelous and darling Heath, everyone.

Joey sent me a hipster mustache. I love a mustache! I think I  handled  this one well...

So.. after all that. All that outpouring of love from people that I'm just so, SO lucky to have in my life- it was a wonderful birthday. Of course, it's still hard to think about what I want next for myself. I'd like to say its a meaningful relationship that leads to marriage and kids and the whole sha-bang. But alas, I know there are other exciting avenues yet to be explored. And hell, if by the time I'm 34 and I haven't popped out a kid yet, I'll just do it.  *u have it in writing, Michele... And while I will feel kinda bad bringing a life into our presently very unpredictable and scary world, in all reality we are just so damn lucky to be alive. So for now, I'll be glad for that. Because as my ridiculously brilliant/beautiful/poetic dad has always said to me : "Katie, Life: It's the only game in town."  So with that, Happy Birthday. To me.