Thirty, Flirty and Thriving

The windows are open and birds are chirping. The geese are having a fight in the pond and some little dog sounds like it is being thrown out of a window. I'm looking at a huge bouquet of fresh flowers from Sara and a collage of cute birthday cards propped up on the table. It's 1:15 and I just finished my brunch and am still in my pajamas (I'll let you decide if that's a good sign or not).

I actually got up around 8:30 this morning and started flipping through all of my pictures books and memories.....collecting and organizing my birthdays through the years. Remembering the stories and feelings that came along with each March 14. [Complete side note here but my friend foodgawker told me that today is Pi Day--get it? 3.14. I'm honored to share a day with such a beloved dessert!!] I've compiled the pictures here for the longest post yet. So grab your favorite drink, kick back and join me for a walk down memory lane. Feel free to nap if needed.

March 14, 1981: I was born at 6:04 am weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 15.5 ounces. 20 3/4 inches long. Dad was the first to hold me after my delivery and Mom called me Tootsie Bear the first time she saw me. That's a nickname that has stuck to this day....even in public I'm sorry to say. They didn't find out what I was going to be before hand, but Mom knew the first girl she had she would name her Susan Rebecca. She had decided that when she was in the 3rd grade.

Slightly random, but in looking through all of the pictures, I also came across this one of my nursery. I thought you might be interested in seeing it since most of you have decorated a nursery or two for your own children.

March 14, 1982: My first birthday. I can't say I remember this one, so I'm going off of what I'm told. The party was at my grandmother's house. We called her MaBet. My cake was a little girl wearing a bonnet and I was not so thrilled. Cried in fact. I didn't have the typical smash your face in the cake party...probably because I had a frilly dress on. Here's a picture I snagged of Mom and I--that's Mabet in the background.

March 14, 1986: My 5th birthday! I don't have any pictures on film from this day, but I have a couple of crystal clear mental pictures. This was my first big party. Mom let me take the kitchen scissors into the yard to cut all of our daffodils before my friends came over. They are my birthday flower and will always be my favorite. Then I had a group of friends from my class and neighborhood come over for the afternoon. We played squirt tag in the backyard and all sat in the dining room for cake and ice cream. Mom filled muffin cups with jelly beans for each place. Then to open presents we moved to the den. I got to sit on the ottoman and everyone sat on the floor around me. Trey Bond, my kindergarten boyfriend, gave me a silver heart necklace on a pink ribbon. I thought it was so beautiful (and still have it).

March 14, 1987- March 14, 1995: These are fuzzy. Mom wasn't big on birthday parties, so while I'm sure I got to pick the dinner (blue box mac and cheese, what else?) and mom would make her signature Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake, I don't have any pictures or memories that really stick out. OH! Except one...maybe around 3rd grade? I had a couple of friends sleep over and Mom took us to Chuck E. Cheese. I remember that I had a really loose tooth that I kept messing with all night.

March 14, 1996: My 15th birthday fell on a Friday. I went to school early for FCA and Sarah O'Neill gave me a homemade card she had made. She had gotten her friends together the day before and they all made me birthday cards. I don't remember anything else from that year, but I remember cherishing those cards. I'm sure I spent some time at the Jacobs' house eating cookie cake since Becca and I were inseparable that year. This is also the year that Becca and I got our learner's permits. I failed the test the first time because I didn't study the traffic laws book. Mom was furious, but I made a quick recovery and passed my 2nd time through.

March 14, 1997: The big 1-6. Mom let me have a party and I was so excited because it was going to be girls AND boys. I was too embarrassed to send out invitations, so my plan was to tell a few girls in the youth group and then let the word spread. It had worked that way for Julie's party a couple of months earlier so I was enthusiastic about my own bash. Mom and I made all of the preparations including ordering a large nugget platter from Chick-fil-A. Courtney was going to sleepover later that night, so I stopped by CFA to pick-up her sleepover bag while she was working. As it turns out.....the word didn't spread. People thought it was an invite only party and I was mildly crushed. I remember being in the kitchen with the group of girls trying to convince them to move into the den to play a game, but no one would budge until the nugget tray was empty. Who can compete with such cute little bites of chicken? Mom and Dad gave me a sapphire and diamond promise ring on a gold band along with tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Theater with Dad. I can't believe I don't have pictures of this birthday either. Good thing my memory is a steel trap!

March 14, 1998: I had a low-key party at the Jacobs' house. Cookie cake was involved and Bradley wore one of those fishing hats with fake stringy hair coming out the bottom. Not the mature gathering I had hoped for, but you were always entertained with the Dumb Boys around.

March 14, 1999: We had just gotten back from our class ski trip senior year. Anna threw a surprise party for me in her basement. It was my first surprise party which was fun, but a few of my friends didn't make the invite list so it was more of a random mix of kids from school. I didn't think much about it because Bradley was there and at the time I was smitten. He and Matt had taken Anna and I out on a date while everyone gathered at her house. Then when we got there we hung out for a while, ate crispy m&m's (which remain my favorite kind of m&m) and then watched the movie The Game. I don't remember much else because Bradley and I were holding hands. Ha ha ha. On our senior trip I had pointed out a little ladybug stuffed animal I wanted him to buy me from the gift shop. I was just joking around, but he found the same one in Atlanta and bought it for me along with a beaded ladybug key chain that he made himself. Thus starting the vast ladybug collection that took over my life in the coming years. I don't have a picture from this party, but here's one from our Senior Trip in Colorado the week before.

March 14, 2000: I was a freshman at Samford and shared a birthday with my hallmate, Lindsey Bell. I remember getting a note from the dorm office letting me know I had a delivery and when I opened the box it was a flower cake from Rachel! I believe Mom drove over for the night and she, Zach and I went to eat Mexican at Sabor Latina in Birmingham. My parents gave me 2 tickets to see Titanic (the stage production) at the Fox, so Courtney and I got gussied up and went together.

March 14, 2001: I was living at home and working full time for Dr. Anderson. I don't have a memory for this birthday, but am guessing I spent it in Athens with Courtney, Robin, and Heather. I found this picture and can tell it is in the Town Club apartment which matches with this date, so that's what I'm going with :) Court made the cream puff cake that is still a favorite today. Heather either has smoke in her eyes or is concentrating on singing...

March 14, 2002: My 21st birthday!! I woke up to my car being completely decorated with streamers, soap on the windows and even birthday plates covering the hub caps. It was my first year down in Florida and Mom and Dad flew down for the day. We went to the Cheesecake Factory that night. Mom pulled out a little flower floating candle and plunked it in my glass of water. Then she pulled out the birthday placemat my aunt made for me as a little girl. My first alcoholic drink was a Peach Bellini and it was delicious. Rachel joined us for dinner as well. On the drive back to Jefferson, I accidentally drove on the wrong side of the road. I had only had 1 drink! Really, it was just a confusing downtown road that was a one-way and I didn't notice until I was already down it. Oh well. :)

[You can't tell here, but the back windshield says "Honk, I'm 21" which got me plenty of traffic attention :)]

The next week the ya-ya's made a road trip down from Athens. We had a great weekend! Robin gave me a hand-stitched scrap quilt that I still use all the time. The other girls brought down a cute plastic margarita set from Target in a ladybug basket. I remember we went to RJ Gator's one night for dinner with my PBA friends and had a cookout at the Jefferson pool another night. OH! And Courtney got her nose pierced!

[Our ode to the Friends opening credits]

[This isn't from the trip with the girls, but I couldn't pass up the picture with the RJ Gator's fish bowl cocktail. Classic]

[I love C.R.Chicks. Pass it on.]

March 14, 2003: This will go down as one of the best birthdays in history. My family wasn't big on making birthdays a production growing up. We celebrated the day, but never made a huge fuss. This year, I was living in London and was celebrated for over a week! It kicked off with a trip to TGI Friday's, which was a luxury in London. We could get real American food including drinks with ice and free refills. The food was so expensive, but we splurged and at the end of the meal I started having random servers come up and tie balloons on me. Then they came out with a cupcake and made me stand on my chair while they sang Happy Birthday to me. My sweet friends obviously had set it up without my knowing.

[After my birthday song with the waiters and Migs at my side.]

Then that Saturday, Meg bought me a big bouquet of daffodils at the Portobello Market and presented them to me while I was eating my weekly Nutella and Banana crepe. (It's a wonder I don't have that stuff running in my blood after those 3 months abroad!) The details of the next celebration parts of fuzzy. I remember the details but can't recall the order of events. Either way--I loved every second! We went out dancing at Tiger Tiger the night before my birthday and at mid-night my friends requested 50's "Go Shorty, It's Your Birthday" to play right at midnight for me. I spent the day of my birthday at the British History Museum with Ryan Bradley and his friends. That night, a few girls had dinner with our Professor, B. Lewt, and his wife. I came back to the flat to a big surprise party that Meghan had been working on for weeks! She even had a friend bring Spongebob supplies from the states! I was so surprised I walked in the door and then ran back out again. We devoured 2 cakes and then all went out dancing at the Sports Bar. I'm pretty sure that's the night I danced with Ryan and accidentally stuck my finger in his eye. Oops!

[I find it funny that 7 of these people weren't even on our PBA trip--they were all just visiting!]

Court flew over for her Spring Break and came bearing the birthday essentials: Girl Scout cookies, Ranch dressing, and People magazine. We toured around the city, went to see Les Miserables (On My Own has always been one of our go-to songs), and just enjoyed being together. She was there with me when I found out my grandmother had died and I remember going to feed the ducks in Hyde park with her to process. Court, I'm so thankful you were able to come over to share my London life.

[Court and I at the London Tower..right before she took a picture of the Crown Jewels!]

[Ready to sing our hearts out....well, internally at least. No need to make a scene.]

March 14, 2004: We were in Florida for Heather's bachelorette weekend. It was a great weekend away and I just remembering laughing constantly. The last night was the day before my birthday and most of the girls had gone to bed early. Robin had found the time to bake a funfetti cake at some point in the day without me knowing so she, Court and I stayed up for a mini celebration. Such a fun memory! We ate the cake straight out of the pan and were soon struck with sugar belly. My actual birthday was our travel day home so we had the whole day in the car. Per Robin's choice, we listened to the Maroon 5 CD all the way home until we took it away. At one point in Alabama, we passed a cute boy on the interstate and we jotted Robin's cell number on a piece of paper and held it up to the window. He called and we thought we were so clever! I'm not sure what brought it up, but before crossing the GA state line, we all agreed to telling the first person who asked about our trip that it was "BITCHIN". Of course, the girls were dropping me directly at the airport to fly home and who else but my mother was there waiting to see me off. Since I am a woman of my word, I looked her straight in the eye and told her it was a bitchin' weekend. Ha ha ha. I wish I had taken a picture of her expression! This was also a big birthday because it was the last time I could fly free with my Delta passes. Mom got special permission to walk me to the gate, and since Dad was just coming in from a trip he met us before I had to board. I snapped a photo of them at the gate, but didn't think to get one with me in it too.

[Before.]

[After.]

[Captain Andy and Suenie before my last free flight.]

Since I was in Destin over my birthday, it didn't occur to me to have another celebration in West Palm. Lucky for me, my roomies had other plans. I remember sitting at work one afternoon when I saw Shelby's red mom car pull-up. That wasn't so unusual since she worked at Results too and we would always visit each other. I was shocked when out of the passenger side jumped Liz decked out in the Spongebob costume (which, I've decided will receive a post all it's own in the near future) with beads and a name tag in hand. She ran in for a drive by birthday party and then left before anyone saw her. I wore the badge the rest of the day that said "my birthday was last week" which was extra surprising/embarrassing for Chris, my boss, who had clearly forgotten. :) Towards the end of my shift, Nan called to see when I was coming home to watch Jeopardy. Nothing unusual there...until she called 3 more times in the period of 1 hour. By the time I got home, I knew something was up, but just didn't put all of the pieces together. The PBA friends had pulled together a little surprise party for me including funfetti cake and yorkie fondue....and the best hand decorated puzzle map EVER. Nan and Laura gave me a mylar hotdog balloon that was weighted down with Clif Bars which I got such a kick out of.

[Drive by Sponge-Bobbing]

March 14, 2005: Relatively uneventful birthday. I remember going to the Candi Pearson-Shelton concert for her new CD in Buckhead. Then a group of us went to dinner at Houlihan's. This was a new group of friends so I remember feeling nervous and shy and wishing I was with friends who knew me better.

March 14, 2006: This was a super low-key birthday as well. No pictures. Dee-dee called some friends to meet up at Cafe Intermezzo one night for my birthday. This was the start of the funk so I don't think I felt like celebrating much.

March 14, 2007: I had a small group of friends over to my parent's house for dinner. Zach was our private chef and he didn't disappoint! He created a signature cocktail then had fancy grilled cheese sandwiches to dip in jam (don't knock it till you try it!) and of course my favorite entree, chicken and mashed potatoes. It was so fun! The next morning a group of girls gathered at J.Christopher's for breakfast and to celebrate. I was kindly awarded the much sought after Crazy Lady action figure who proceeded to be passed from friend to friend on their birthday for a full year.

March 14, 2008: I was living with Jenni this year and we decided to have a party at her place. It was so fun! She made monkey cupcakes and I made Jello shots. Courtney and Ryan made it from Woodstock (which can be considered another country!) and I loved getting to mix my friend groups. We had a great time hanging out. During one of my turns at Guitar Hero I heard the front door open and close. My back was to the door and I didn't pay much attention to it until the song was over. I turned around and there stood Zach in the doorway. I burst into tears of surprise and hugged him! He was living in Costa Rica at the time and was passing through Atlanta that night on his way to visit a friend in Spain. He'd asked my parents to keep his arrival a surprise so I didn't even know he was going to be in the states. I loved having him at the party with us.

[margarita jello shots!]

The next day Zach, Dad and I went to breakfast. Zach made a passing comment about how I should go to Spain with him and I said "OK". I made a couple of phone calls and before I knew it, I was packing my bag and boarding a plane by dinner time. He and I got first class seats on the way over and had such fun playing Bejeweled and watching all of the in flight movies with cocktails in hand. While the trip didn't necessarily turn out like he had expected, I am so thankful for the time that we had together. It's the only time he and I have gotten out and traveled together and I will always cherish those 4 days and the memories we made.

March 14, 2009: I finally got a tea party birthday! It was a cold and rainy Saturday, and I met a group of girls up at the Roswell Tea House. It was so fun! (I think I've said that for almost every year, I know). Mom came and entertained the whole group with her antics.....including calling herself a COUGAR before I could stop and explain to her what she was saying. Her face turned all shades of red as she retracted her declaration. Robin brought a cookie cake and I ordered high tea. Since it was my birthday, I decided to ask the waitress to hold off on the finger sandwiches and scones that are traditional and bring only the sweets part. Needless to say by the end of that party I was numb with sugar belly. Sara had driven in from Athens so she spent the afternoon with me and then we headed to the Johnsey's house for game night.

March 14, 2010: Jenni put together a cat-themed birthday party for me this year. Sadly, I don't have any pictures to prove it. A friend took some on her camera and I have yet to see them. Dang. Anyway, Jenni and I have a long standing joke about having to become crazy cat ladies since we're getting older by the minute and aren't married. Seems only logical. So she sent out the invitation asking people to bring cat gifts. It was hysterical. I got a pair of cat slippers, a poster, and little plastic cat toys even. We celebrated at Seasons 52 which is one of my favorite restaurants nearby. We had 9 girls around the table and it was the perfect size! We ate and laughed (and I sipped on a sweet tea vodka cocktail) and then a few of us went back to our house for games with special cake balls and Oreo balls to snack on. Note to self, if you ever want to win Bananagrams do NOT play with a kindergarten/1st grade teacher. She was so speedy with the 3 letter words!!

And that brings us to today. March 14, 2011. It is now 4:05 and I'm still in my pajamas finishing this post, but honestly it has been a great day. I feel like I've spent time with each of you as I've gone through these memories and fun times. I've gotten to talk and text with friends on the phone and just relax without making a single to-do list. I'm going to get dressed now and head over to mom and dad's for family celebration.

All the anxiety and 30 really isn't so bad. I didn't feel older when I woke up, and I don't look much different. Now reminded of the amazing friends and family I've had walking with me through the years leaves me feeling empowered and excited for the coming year. Let's do this, 3-0.