31 years

Ah, March 4th.

Forget Christmas, the Fourth of July, and all those other famous birthdays we're forced to celebrate throughout any given year, for THIS is the one day that truly calls for major rejoicing.

Thirty-one years ago on this exact date was when I had decided to grace this world with my presence. March 3rd and March 5th simply were not good enough... only the 4th would do. I didn't pick it because I knew the weather would be spectacular every year -- in fact, I usually end up with quite the opposite. It's typically still cold with everyone pissed off that winter hasn't ended yet; the sky is usually a lovely dull gray, still threatening the northeast population with chances of snow, sleet, rain or some other nasty and undesirable form of precipitation. But here I am, a ray of sunshine to brighten up the last few days of winter... a preview, if you will, of the glorious things to come when spring finally arrives.

We only get one day a year that can be 100% about us. So on my birthday, I usually like to do a little something special for myself in appreciation of me, just as a reminder that Hey, you've come a long way and you're doing great, so keeping being you.

I do this a lot on days that aren't my birthday, but I also like to think back on who I've been, look ahead to who I'm becoming, and recall the steps I've taken to get me to where I am today. I was really blessed with a wonderful and loving family, who helped ensure I had a great childhood and grew up to be a kind, respectful, successful, and incredibly charming young woman. (Wink!)

Reminiscing for me commonly involves digging through old pictures from way back when, you know, cameras had film and you had to wait excruciating amounts of time to get your roll developed. There's something to be said for holding actual pictures in your hand rather than just flipping through images on your phone or computer. Look at me, I'm just barely into my thirties and already talking about the "good old days" when my friends and I watched movies on VHS tapes and recorded our favorite songs from the radio onto cassettes and listened to them on our now-antiquated Walkman devices.

Anyway, I digress. Perhaps I'll save my experiences with growing up in the 80s and 90s for a different post. Please do enjoy some of the treasures I found today as we all take a moment to pause and celebrate 31 years of JMP.

Oh hey, world!

With my beautiful grandparents and sister

She said she waited a long time for me to get here!

Favorite picture of me & mom

Sisters!

Cheesin' it up

Cute without even trying

Hold please... Ah mom, I'm a little busy!

A little light reading - National Geographic

Not sure about this whole "corn" situation

Tearin' into that cake!

Always class with a little bit of sass

Sweet & innocent, but only on the outside

With my grandparents at First Communion

First grade, minus a few teeth

Always incredibly amused

Third grade, still missing a few in the front!

I got addicted to coffee at a young age...

With grandpa

Not getting any less awkward by fifth grade...

Freshman in high school, braces just came off!

High school senior photo

College graduation... Let's do this!

My 30th year ended with lots of big changes, and I couldn't be more excited to see what this next year is going to bring for me. We've all come a long way from where we once started, answering plastic telephones and collecting our lost teeth to give to the elusive Tooth Fairy, to eventually getting degrees and jobs as "adults in the real world." Sometimes maybe we really do grow up too fast, but that doesn't necessarily mean we always have to act our age. 

I'm always going to be that kid with the goofy grin and long blonde hair; she just changed and evolved a little over the years into the goofy adult with the short, fabulous and almost-gray coiffure. So here's to another year of not getting older, just wiser; of new experiences to make new memories; of growing and changing, but in some ways, staying the same.