My most memorable birthday was my 20th. I dont know what it is about me an odd numbered ages, but I tend to enjoy them more. To me, they have a nicer, sassier ring to them. On top of that, 20 just seemed like a really huge number and had so many meanings. I was no longer a teenager. In a year, Id be considered a “legal” adult. My “youth” is over. Needless to say, I was bummed. Couple with that, I was alone. I was living on campus at the time, but my good friend had went home. My parents werent coming that year, and so I had no one to celebrate with. I didnt have a car, and so I had decided to kind of skip this birthday. However, I had a friend named Aaron. He swears up and down that we originally met at a party, but I honestly did not remember him. We “reconnected” on whatever the hot social networking site was at the time. He was a totally awesome guy who had morals, operated on spiritual principles, and was great to talk to. We talked ALL the time for hours on end about EVERYTHING. What was great about it was that neither one of us were trying to “get” with the other. Anyway, a week before my birthday, we were talking one night and I just happened to mention that my birthday was coming up, but I was not excited about it. He could not understand how someone would not be excited to celebrate another year of life! He gave me a friendly lecture, but I was still not feeling it. I guess he recognized that I was truly bummed, and so he told me not to make any plans for Saturday (my birthday) and keep the whole day open. I was not going to make plans anyway, but I was forewarned in case anyone else wanted to take me out.
My only instructions were meet me at the mall at x time. True, my mall isnt huge, but “the mall” is a tad bit vague to be meeting someone youve never met! Like I said before, I didnt remember what this dude looked like. Now, he did tell me what he would be wearing–a sweater, jeans, and Timberlands–but that description was very vague too. Anyway, I hopped on the bus and headed to the mall to find Aaron. I waited and watched in the food court for a little while, but did not find him. I decided that I needed to search for him. I had only known him for about two months, but we had learned a lot about each other in a short time. I thought, “if I were Aaron where would I be?” I thought about it for a while and came up with the bookstore. I went to B. Dalton, and there he was. He said he was waiting to see if I would find him there.
Before that day, I didnt know he didnt have a car. We spent the whole day traveling via bus and train to various places around town. First he took me bowling because in one of our conversations I mentioned that I like to bowl. So, we did that for a while and then headed somewhere else. While waiting for the bus to come, he hands me a box wrapped in red paper. At the time red was my favorite color. I unwrapped the box, and inside was a bottle of my favorite perfume! At the time it was Tommy Girl. I was so shocked that he remembered because that was a very random detail of another conversation we had. I dont remember where we went next, but he took me to the West End and showed me a little bit of Morehouse (his school). We also went to Atlantas best Chinese restaurant! He had never eaten there, but he found that it was voted the best. I dont remember the name, but its in Buckhead. And for the record, I thought it was just ok LOL. I didnt tell him that though. So, during one of these train rides (the longest one–probably from the West End to Buckhead), he takes out a blue box and hands it to me. Now, gentleman, if you want to make a woman REALLY nervous for any reason, then give her a blue box! It doesnt matter whats inside; all blue boxes will make a woman nervous LOL. Anyway, it was a long blue box, and I didnt quite know what to do. “Hes buying me jewelry?? Why is he buying me jewelry??? Does this dude like me????” I hadnt opened the box yet as Im trying to figure out what the meaning was when he said, “Arent you going to open it?” So I opened the box, and there were two big 15-stick packs of my favorite gum, Extras Spearmint flavor!! I thought it was so cute. Then he handed me another box! I was less nervous, but still a little confused. I opened it and there four little 5-stick packs of gum. Now Im thinking its funny and cute. He handed me another box, and before I could get it fully open he hands me and another box, and another, and another…..I think I must have gotten like eight boxes! I just started laughing. By the time I was done opening all these boxes, I had 20 packs of my all time favorite gum! That was THE best gift ever!
The night ended with a visit to a newspaper store in Buckhead. I suppose we had to do something he liked too lol. Anyway, the day was over, and it was dark. He “took” me back to the mall so I could go back to school. He gave me a birthday card that he told me to read when I got back. It was a very nice card, and I still have it. I was totally overwhelmed at the entire event. I thought that I was a great listener, but I dont think I could have come up with something like this for anyone. He listened to EVERYTHING I said and remembered it. As you can tell, Im not huge on gifts although I like to get them. Im really easy, and love the simple things in life. For someone that I hardly knew to take his time to make sure I had a good birthday and show me that hes been paying attention to me is just totally awesome. This was truly the best birthday ever!
I failed to mention that I wasnt exactly dressed appropriately for this rendevous lol. This was January, and I had on a short sleeve shirt and a wind breaker. I had only been in the ATL for one winter and had not figured out the weather patterns yet. In Augusta, where I grew up, my attire would have been perfect. And actually, the weather was quite good for most of the day and I was fine. However, as the sun went down I got colder. It didnt get terribly cold that night, but it was cool enough to notice. The next morning I woke up at 5:00, and I was wide awake. For those who do not know, I am completely nocturnal lol. I started watching TV hoping to get sleepy, but it was of no use. I felt weird. I couldnt explain how I felt. I didnt feel bad, but I didnt feel good either. And to be up at 5:00?? WITW?! So, I got up and went to the nurses office. She knew me pretty well because I came once a week to give myself allergy injections in the afternoon. Needless to say she was very shocked to see me at 7:00 a.m.! I told her I felt weird, and she said I didnt look good. She took my temperature, and I dont remember what the number was, but it alarmed her and she told me to see a doctor. I told her I didnt have a doctor here or have a car, so she called the campus police to take me to the urgent care facility. Long story short, I had bronchitis, and I missed an entire week of school! Best birthday ever LOL.
What is YOUR most memorable birthday?
Great post. I will read your posts frequently. Added you to the RSS reader.
I appreciate it!