Please forgive the hiatus.
It hit me at about 8:38 this morning. When I woke up a couple hours beforehand, I woke up a 21-year-old. I was well aware of the age, but when my mother came down to go to work she wished me a happy birthday. Then there was a comment or two about how I'm no longer her baby. Even though she's been saying taht every birthday since my sixteenth.
Then it hit me. All the connotations and images that the phrase "21st birthday" elicits. It's almost a tradition-- a rite of passage, if you will-- to drink one's face off on his or her 21st. But I don't think I'll be engaging in many Bacchanalian exploits tonight, now that I really think about it. I used to sneak off and drink with my buddies when I was in high school. The thrill of being 16 and drunk was more pronounced because... well, I was only 16. It's no longer fun now that it's legal. Tonight I'm just gonna have a quiet dinner with a couple good friends. Maybe a drink or two if I feel so inclined.
What did you do on your 21st?
harriedpsychmajor posted on Jan 20, 2007
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Comments
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secretlife said on Jan 20, 2007....
happy birthday!the legal drinking age in NJ when i was growing up was 18....so the thrill was gone by 21....at 21 i'd just met my husband, and he took my twin sister and i out to dinner at the really great little seafood place in our hometown. i remember they made the best in the world crab stuffing.... then we went back home to my mom's house and had cake with the rest of my family....hope you have a fun time today! -
silverwhisper said on Jan 20, 2007....
happy birthday, harried! it's been a while so i'm glad to see you back. :>
i honestly can't recall how i spent my 21st birthday. hm...it was just before my senior year of college. i suppose there must've been a family dinner at a restaurant i liked. hm...
ed -
ALIENated said on Jan 20, 2007....
I had been in Vietnam for less than a month when I turned 21. I had been drinking and smoking for years before that. I quit smoking 30 years ago (wow, can it be that long) and quit drinking 20 years ago. My advice, stay away from both. Happy birthday. Welcome to adulthood. It is all down hill from here. -
Comfort said on Jan 20, 2007....
Happy birthday to you.. It's mine today too.. I'm 13 yrs older though :-(DIdn't do much for my 21st to be honest, was expecting my 2nd child at the time.. Making up for it now though. -
ALIENated said on Jan 20, 2007....
Hey, I scored a double (entry). Feel free to delete one (or both). And I did not mean life is down hill after 21. I meant there are not that many birthdays you will look forward to as much as 13, 18, and 21. Or at least I wanted to stop at 21 or maybe 35. -
mom said on Jan 20, 2007....
Happy Birthday -
mobil said on Jan 20, 2007....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY..........AND MANY MORE !!!!!!!!!! -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jan 20, 2007....
woo hoo! I remeber my 21st b-day....kinda.... Hope yours is blurry. Get it out when you can. -
allaroundgirl said on Jan 20, 2007....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I raise my glass to you...may you have many more happy b-days!! -
queenparanoia said on Jan 21, 2007....
happy birthday!!!!!! well my 21st birthday was last january 12 and well you read what happened on this post.well welcome to "adulthood" shucks i hate that word. hope you drink your night away!!!enjoy!!! -
polarheart said on Jan 21, 2007....
A very Happy Birthday, Harried, to you and to Comfort!So there are lots of us in Jan - Queen was 21 on the 12th, I was 36 on the 17th, You are 21 today and Comfort is 34 today. . .so I guess I the old fogie - hahahahaI was already working when I was 21 and I arranged a barn dance and had a live band and everybody had to dress like cowboys - a true American fest in the heart of South Africa.Have a grrrrreat day! Polar x -
peedee said on Jan 21, 2007....
Happy Birthday and plenty pf Cheeers !
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