Reflections on a 19th birthday.

I turned 19 on the 19th of July. There was something different about this birthday that made it special. For starters, this year isn't at all like any of my previous birthdays. I remembered the excitement I felt as a kid every time July rolled around. I used to look at the calendar for a whole week before the 19th, anxiously waiting for the days to pass and always wondering what my gifts might be. When the day finally came, I sprang like a spring to those gifts from family. My mouth watered with glee, in anticipation for the sweet, creamy, birthday cake. When I blew out those candles, the pride of being a year older overwhelmed me as my parents, relatives, and friends cheered. "You're really growing up," they all said. Those were the days when birthdays were magic.

My mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year. Mom always knew what to get for my birthday, and I always loved the gift. But this year I had no clue either. It used to be so clear what I wanted; that cool Lego set, that shiny new bike, that new laptop I needed for school. But this year I honestly had no idea, and I really didn't care much what I got, if anything at all. I was truly content with what I had and there was nothing so awesomely cool which came across my mind. The 19th felt like it was just another hot summer day. So we ended up going on a roadtrip through Washington State with a good colleague of my mom's and her family.

When we gathered on their van, they all wished me happy birthday as usual, but there was something different this year. No more "My you've grown!" or "Wow, you're X(years old) now!!", or "Happy X(years)!!". It seemed that everyone gazed at me with an observant eye and a thoughtful nod. As they said "Happy Birthday," in a strangely polite tone, their facial expressions seemed more like "Well man, you made it. Welcome."

"Thank you," I replied, with that same observant eye and thoughtful nod.