birthdays are stupid. I don't really tell anyone when it's my birthday because I think that after age 12, it just comes off as desperate.

• age 3: I think my mom hired a clown.
• age 5: Barbie birthday party.
• age 8: first sleepover party.
• age 9: stuck at mountain man rendezvous in Wyoming.
• age 13: first day of 8th grade, the only time I've been to school on my birthday.
• age 15: saw Def Leppard at the State Fair, the first of five times.
• age 16: mono.
• age 19: visited various public housing sites with my first college class.
• age 21: drive in a mini-van with my parents for six hours to move into my new apartment the next day, spend night with my grandparents and feel so self conscious that I only have one beer.
• age 23: my then-boyfriend wants to take me out to do whatever I want, after two hours he starts complaining that he's tired of walking around downtown. later that night, he throws up in my bed.
• age 24: I visit my dad in the hospital the day after he had a rib to alleviate a crushed vein. it is less weird but more depressing than expected.