I am officially one year older than I was when I wrote my last blog post. This Friday I celebrated my 20th birthday in France! Turning 20 in France was an amazing, yet sad experience, but I am sure it is a birthday I will never forget.
A common motif that has popped up throughout my blogs is how amazing my host family is, and here it is again. As a birthday gift to me, my host family threw a dinner party for all 12 of my American friends and one German friend. The pulled out all the stops. There were little snack bowls, a fondue dinner with delicious cheese, potatoes and assorted cured meats, wine, cider, and of course cake for dessert. I can't express to them how grateful I am (not just due to the language barrier) because they really make me feel like a member of the family. Everyone had an amazing time.
On my actual birthday I went to a creperie with some friends for lunch and came home to some AMAZING gifts. I did not expect to cry on my birthday, but cry I did. My family gave me such sweet and thoughtful gifts with beautiful cards. Some of my favorite DVDs, a poster of a quote signed by my favorite author John Green, a tea set and one of my favorite teas. Not to mention a recording of them singing happy birthday with my dogs barking in the background. It was amazing, but I so wish I could have heard it in person. It is crazy how much I miss them in such a short period of time. I also received a package from my dear friend Deanna filled with fall themed homey goodies (she knows how much I love an American fall), a few gifts from friends her and a beautiful memory book made by my friend Natalie.
That evening I went out with some friends to finish off my birthday together and I had an amazing time. It is crazy because I know you are not supposed to be doing this until you are much much older, but I always get a little sad on my birthday. My old friend posted on my Facebook "I still remember when you turned 16 and cried at the HFII Homecoming game because you were growing up." I still tend to do that. And it is silly because every year things just keep getting better and better and I'm just afraid of when that incline is going to stop. But I only let that kind of thinking distract me for a brief moment on my birthday and other than that it really was one of the best birthdays I have had. It is hard to grow up. It is hard to watch people you love grow up. But it is something we all have to do so might as well enjoy it.
Emster,
ReplyDeleteI totally know how you feel. I cried on my 20th birthday... First off, I was no longer a teenager, which tended to suck and second, no one called me on my birthday. It seemed that once you hit the big 2-0 you were no longer eligible for the "special treatment" a birthday would bring. I remember sitting downstairs in grandma and papa's house waiting for my brother's to call me. I think Uncle Joey called a day late. Not sure what happened with Uncle Eddie. The good news is, it's just a number and your age is what you make it. I think I stayed a 19 year old for a couple more years... at least mentally. As you know, I'm still mid-30's-ish toady. At any age, I love you, Dad.
Oh, Emmalou!!!! I was reading this and started hearing you read it to me. I am missing the heck out of you, my dear. We should Skype soon, with Sarah and Nathalie too! I love you sooooo much!
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