25… It’s not old, I swear

My mom has always said, “You start dying at age 25.” Well, right now it’s 9:50 pm and I plan to enjoy the last 2 hours and 10 minutes of my growing. I am turning 25 on August 7th! At 10:41 am to be exact at 7 lbs, 8 oz. Hey, since I don’t have a baby yet to brag about I can brag about my OWN baby weight and how utterly adorable I was right? I was. Utterly adorable. Also, (and this is from my mom) I had fat in areas where little newborns shouldn’t have fat. Meaning that she knew I was going to be big chested. Please don’t take that last sentence as bragging because I assure you, I am not. Just giving you the facts. Besides being fat in my chest area, I was just fat all around. Last weekend, apparently my little sister Valerie told my older sister, Melanie, that Liam (my nephew) was fat (Val was trying to push her buttons I think). My mom interrupted and said:

“Oh no! You know who the FATTEST baby was? Julie. When she was a baby she was so fat that her neck SPLIT OPEN because the neck rolls were so big.”

Yes folks… my poor mother had a baby (me) who was so fat that her neck split open because of the moisture. She quickly took me to the doctor and was advised to place cornstarch in the huge cut under my chin.

Anyways, I have very mixed feelings about turning 25. First off, 25 is a number that I always considered to be “old” (I am sorry for those of you older than 25 here). For example, when I was a freshman in college I dated a guy who was 25 and that was SO OLD to me. And now, I am 25. (btw, what was that assh*le thinking by dating an 18 year old?). 25 has another name too: quarter a century. I will be a quarter of a century old tomorrow and halfway to 50. If I live to be 100, my life is 1/4 over. Wow am I depressing tonight or what?

No really, I am excited to be 25 contrary to what you’re thinking. I feel that at 25 I’ve accomplished a lot already. I am fluent in 2 languages, have two degrees and have a year left to get my third, lived in four states (PA, OH, MD, VA), have a wonderful boyfriend, and a promising career ahead (which includes my fantastic internship that I’ll be starting on August 24th). Wow am I talking myself up tonight or what?

For this post I was trying to figure out how I wanted to come across: Happy or Bitter about turning 25. ALL DAY I have been bitter about this fact. I actually cried around 4:30 for no reason other than I figured none of my friends would remember my birthday (especially since Facebook has changed the layout since I turned 24). But now, I refuse to be bitter. I’m going to forge ahead, brag about myself (see above), and be happy with the woman I have become.

So tonight, I’m going to hold up my wine glass and say cheers to another 75 years (at LEAST).

I don’t think I have ever been so thoughtful on any other birthday. Usually they just come and go without a thought other than let’s drink and be merry.