Thursday, 06 September 2007

Life Imitates Art

So I turned 22 today. It's sort of strange.

With the advent of the Facebook, it seems that more people "remember" your birthday when it's probably just that they have convenient reminders. To some people, that might make it shallower, but I guess I don't mind. It still makes me smile when someone says "Happy Birthday."

But to the reason of the title. I woke up this morning a bit after 9 and decided that I'd jump right on finishing my reading for Secondary Principles. I stumbled into the living room and found Brandon quietly reading his Bible. I flopped onto the couch, he smiled and bid me "Good morning," and we both set about our reading.

A little before 11, I had finished and decided that I should maybe look decent for my birthday and went into the bathroom and was about to get into the shower when I also noticed I looked pretty sketch with all that stubble. Thus, I methodically began removing three days worth' of facial hair. While doing so, Brandon started beating on the door and informed me I had a phone call. I stepped out into the kitchen with two-thirds of my face clean and the rest looking like, well, partially shaven. It was probably pretty funny. Anyway, the person on the other end informed me that she had a birthday cake on the way for me from Third Reformed Church (nice happy little deal they have with Hope College) and that it'd be there in 10 minutes. I got off the phone, which Brandon then asked who was calling. I replied that I had a birthday cake coming and he said, "I thought your birthday was next week."

"No, I turned 22 about an hour and a half ago."

"DUDE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

I frantically finished and while waiting noticed that I had a missed call from Jeannette on my cell. I returned that and discovered she wanted to pick up the stuff I'm now loaning to her to jump-start her teaching job (congratulations!). What about my shower? So I now have two people coming: lady with my birthday cake and Jeannette. While I'm waiting for both of them, I heard a loud banging on the apartment door. NOW what? Turns out someone had let this nice lady into Brumler and she was holding this beautiful chocolate Bundt cake with enough frosting to coat an Oldsmobile. I happily thanked, apologized for answering in my pajamas and looking like a train wreck, and she just smiled. I put the cake down on the table and then stepped outside to give Jeannette the two binders of stuff. She wished me a happy birthday as well, took the stuff, and headed back to Nykerk. I went back to the apartment and read the attached birthday card. While I was doing that, Victor came in and I could have sworn his eyes were as big as saucers when he beheld my birthday treat. "When's the party?"

"Oh, no party. But we'll have some tonight."

He grinned. I sighed happily to myself after reading the card. It was from my parents, Jordan, and my kittycats.

I did get my shower. It only took a half hour to get in. I felt like I was living a hare-brained sitcom.

By the way, I did enjoy my birthday. Yeah, I went to class. But Secondary Principles is always enjoyable. Dr. Richmond made my voice lesson fun and told me I have a student accompanist (yay!). I like Chapel Choir anyway and we worked on some pretty sweet music today. I saw Nate for a very, very short time today and then talked to the family for my birthday phone call.

Then came InterVarsity, which is sweet. Afterwards, Sara hosted a milkshake party and I brought my birthday cake to augment the experience, which made it even sweeter.

Birthday bonus: my super spy spot allowed me to spy a Nate throwing a Frisbee between Wyckoff and the WTS Library and I rang his phone. It was fun to catch him. He was slightly freaked, but then amused. It was good to get to say goodbye to him.

'Twas a good birthday.