Friday, September 28, 2007

the sands of time

Four years ago today, I was in a pizza parlor/ pub in Alexandria, Va, having my first drink in a bar. It wasn't by choice. My friends were ordering me shots and drinks for my 21st birthday, in hopes of getting me good and drunk. The guys thought it would be hilarious to make me do a shot of 151. They all thought I would gag and throw up, but I took it like a pro and didn't even have a chaser. I find it funny that I can down a shot of 151 with no problem, but cough syrup makes me gag and throw up. Their plan to get me drunk, failed however. I remember everything about that day and wasn't even slightly hung over the next morning as I started my new job in Washington DC.

Three years ago today, I was in Oklahoma, waiting in our tiny, smelly, temporary housing for my husband to come home from work. It was pouring down rain and we were poor. He gave me 2 CDs and a Barrel of Monkeys.

Two years ago today, I was in California. W was almost 3 weeks old and I was exhausted. I had just said goodbye to my husband, again, for 3 more months and I went out to lunch with my mom and my friend.

One year ago today, I was pregnant with CB and W and I were on a plane to Georgia to see my husband, who I hadn't seen or even talked to in two months. After W and I landed and picked up our rental car, I stopped at Cracker Barrel and filled up on some of their delicious food and amazing sweet tea. Then I drove to Ft. Benning, Ga, and got to see my husband. Four days later, W and I got back on a plane to CA and M got on a plane to Germany. We didn't see each other for 2 months after that.

Today, well, I'm in Germany with my two kids and my mom and a husband in Iraq. Today is nothing special to me. It just means I'm officially in my mid twenties. I'm not depressed about it but I'm not overjoyed, either. I've done a lot in my 25 years that I'm really proud of and I'm excited to see what the next 25 years bring. Who knows where I will be or what I will be doing on my next birthday.

My mom thinks we should be out celebrating but I don't really want to. So she says we need to at least celebrate the anniversary of the 36 hours of hard back labor she went through to bring me into this world. So, Happy Anniversary! Honestly, if I had gone through 36 hours of hard back labor and pushed this out,



I'd probably be asking for a refund. Thank goodness I've gotten better looking with age.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
OMG, that picture is hysterical! No wonder it took 36 hours, you clearly did NOT want to be out in the world! ;)
Oh, come on, go out and at least treat yourself to a nice big no-soy, no wheat, no dairy, decaf, nonalcoholic... lemonade (is citrus allowed?)?!
I hope you have a great day. Happy 25th!
-Sarah

Anonymous said...

The good thing about birthdays is that they get celebrated whether you want them to or not - because everyone who knows and loves you celebrates this as a special day. I didn't get to meet you until I came back from Chicago when you were 5 months old by which time your appearance had significantly improved! But your entrance into our family (as well as that remarkable birth photo) was amazing and wonderful... as your accomplishments of your first twenty-five years have been. Happy Birthday and Love.

Hilary said...

Aww, but you're so cute!

Happy Birthday, JoAnna! I always thought it was cool that we both had September birthdays. You were the first thing I thought of when I realized it was the 28th (while correcting the date on the postage meter here at work) and, as another commenter said, I will celebrate this as a special day even if you don't want to. :)

Jessica Ryan said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOJO and Get your mom a nice big bottle of bubbly! She deserves it even if it is 25 years after the fact!

Imcombobulated said...

Happy Belated Birthday! You have the same birthday as my nephew, but you're 12 years older than him.

I hated turning 25. 30 was fine, but 25 is a quarter of a century and I hated the idea that the word 'century' could be used in the description of my age. Plus, that morning I awoke with my first age spot, on my left hand. And I was single and convinced I would remain so, childless and lonely forever.

Are you guys going to be around at the end of October?

Andrea said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO!! I know its tough to even feel like its anything special when Dh is away and you have so many more important things to take care of. I felt that way this year (for my 25th) also. He was gone last year too and probably several other years times before that. Its sad when having a birthday isn't even fun anymore. Hope you have a good birthday after all, and being 25 hasn't been to bad so far. PS One of my blonde friends told me "now you're half way!" and I said "to what?" her reply: "to 40!"

Stefanie said...

Happy Birthday Jo.
I am sure that you had a better 25th than I did. My birthday just plain sucked. The day before I had a great day and the day after I had a great day. I hope that you were able to go out and do something fun. Quarter of a century really makes one think, ya?
Happy Late Birthday

Margaret said...

That is the funniest baby picture I've ever seen!!! Happy belated birthday!!!!! :)