grown up!

i am a grown-up now!
or i feel like one at least.
this is my first real grown-up birthday without my mom and dad. my first birthday without a cake too for that matter. i did get a bunch of cards and two packages. one card came with a glittery crown. i got the traditional five pound bag of jelly beans from judy. pajamas, button-making kit, clothes, stationary, and edible goodies from mom. i got a free cookie from the insomnia cookie truck (new addiction). and the lady in j&h sang a very jazzy rendition of happy birthday to me. she also threw in a little dancing. i love the employees of temple.

last night was good!
the budget meeting was a very human experience. it was great to see so many people interested in their community. agreeing on the point of safety. hearing where they came from. dr. palmer, denise, crystal. good people. i just missed really talking to people. it was just refreshing. in addition, i got a chance to meet and bond with kids in my journalism class which was nice. then we went to the cookie truck and apparently jeff works there so he gave me some extra cookies. then we saw twilight and i made new friends. (malcolm x most notably). i was surrounded by good happy people at midnight who all violently whispered 'happy birthday' to me as a fight scene began on screen. it was just overall very nice.

i really fucked up last weekend. but i sincerely believe everything happens for a reason. it really put things in perspective for me. i love my family more than anything. they are so incredibly supportive. it literally almost brings me to tears at times. that they can forgive me for being a complete dumbass and sing happy birthday to me and feel guilty for not coming to see me. it's really too much. it's wonderful. i wish everyone could be so lucky as to experience that kind of love in their life.

jen might keep her baby! i want to make it a thousand things. she wrote an excellent article about being a pregnant teen that was published in philadelphia weekly. her stance on abortion was incredibly refreshing from both standpoints i think.

nineteen will be good.