24
October 26, 2007 | Filed under: Great moments in narcissism, Mmhmm That's Right
“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” ~Larry Lorenzon
When I was eight, before the world was dominated by Bushs and Clintons, I made this timeline of every event in my life from my high school graduation to when I would get married and start having children. 24 was apparently the age that my eight year old mind thought would be a good time to start in on the whole marriage and parenting one-two punch. Normally I’d say that my eight year old self was high, but instead I will say Aww. Because eight year olds are cute and wistful and think that 24 is ‘old’. Eight year olds have yet to become cynical and pessimisstic. They are wonderfully optimistic most of the time and one must admit that it can be adorable.
Today is my 24th birthday and I am a tad more pragmatic and would like to set my goals a little lower. All I really want is to have a good year. There are also more personal things like the ability to eat a burrito without analyzing every bite and calming the fuck down because some things won’t ever change. But other than that it’s all very simple and the rest written down and tucked away for a rainy day. I think that if I told my eight year old self that having a baby at 24 really wouldn’t bode well for her career (never mind what she would do if I told her that she would have enough money to fill her closet with shoes, because she HATED shopping with a passion) or for her relationship with her roommate, but at 24 there could be as many cupcakes as she wanted because her mother won’t be around to say No; then she would totally be down with that. So I think I’ll shuffle things around and save those major life events for another year.
token says:
I am so proud of you. My goal at 13 was not to have sex until I was 25 and get married at 30. I got married at 21 and my darling son was born when I was 23. You are so much stronger than me. I’m jealous, too.
nabbalicious says:
I once actually thought that I’d be dead by 30, because Sweet Jesus, 30 is OLD! Thankfully, that didn’t come true.
Happy birthday, old lady! I hope it’s a great year for you.
Joe C says:
Happy Birthday!!!
gorillabuns says:
HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY!!!
MAY THE NEXT 24 BE WONDERFUL - FULL OF ONLY LOVE, JOY AND HAPPINESS!!!
jomama says:
Happy Birthday!!
takin chances says:
Have the most fabulous 24th birthday ever!!! At 24 I moved away from home to the “great state” of Mississippi. You can’t do as badly as that! LOL
lil foots mommy says:
Delurking to say Happy Birthday!!! I hope you have a great day…and I’m sure it will be a birthday weekend not just one day!!! Have a great one!
merrymishaps says:
De-lurking to say Happy Birthday!
Enjoy where you are in life, it’s a great time!
Lawyerish says:
Happy Birthday, Heather B!!
Dooode, 24. Twenty-four is good. Still young enough to be footloose and fancy free, but old enough to Know Better and grow into yourself and embrace all that you are and not care so much about what people think. Le sigh. I wish I had been even half as self-possessed as you are when I was 24.
Today is definitely the day to have as many cupcakes as you want.
slynnro says:
Happy Birthday!
Cindy says:
A birthday on a Friday!? Awesome! Hope it’s a great one…
M&Co. says:
Happy Birthday!
Jennie says:
Happy Birthday! And here’s to all the cupcakes one deserves on their day. (Which is A LOT.)
Maybe I’ll stop by Sprinkles and have one on your behalf.
Anna says:
Happiest of birthdays to you!
24 was one of my most favorite years (so far anyway) I hope that it is for you too.
Erika says:
Happy Birthday!! Have a good time today.
Mandee says:
Happy Birthday!
Lori says:
Happy Birthday!
Beth says:
Wow, 24 seems like a lifetime ago for me!
But I’m sure it will be the best year yet for you! Happy Birthday!
(When I saw the title of this post, I immediately thought it was about the TV show on Fox. But your birthday is a far better topic!)
Lori says:
Happy, happy birthday!! Now I want a cupcake.
I hope you have a wonderful, fabulous year. And that you put Philadelphia on your travel schedule.
Belinda says:
Happiest of birthdays to you, beautiful woman. And I’m glad I’m not the only one who daydreams about talking to my younger self.
mcgee says:
happy birthday heather!!
bloggadocio says:
happy 24th and may you have a specatular year!
PS - you are the third person i know whose birthday is today!
lindsayc says:
Happy Birthday. If memory serves, 24 was a great year to enjoy, old enough but yet not too old yet. BTW, I’m 34 so perhaps my memory has faded!
Marie D. says:
Happy birthday Heather!
I wish I had had the great idea of just “having a good year” at 24 but I wasn’t pragmatic enough at that time, good for you that you are already!
Neil says:
Happy Birthday to a wonderful person!
metalia says:
Happy happy birthday!!
Angella says:
Have a superb day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
(PS - You’re still a baby ;))
Leah says:
Happy birthday, sweet thing!
Liz says:
HB, HB!
Hooooo boy. I kill myself.
One Smart Cookie says:
Happy birthday to the fabulous Heather B! I hope that you have a terrific year, starting with as many cupcakes as you can handle.
Kristabella says:
Happy birthday! Here’s to a very terrific year for you!
nopasanada says:
You all are so very kind. Thank you a million times over. And now, WE DRINK! or at least have a burrito and one beer.
HollowSquirrel says:
Happy birthday, sweetie! YAY!! Enjoy your birthday burrito & cupcakes — sounds perfect to me!
Nic (bridehood) says:
Happy Birthday! Have a drink. Pamper yourself a little. Enjoy. Twenty four is a good year. Really.
Shash says:
Happy Birthday Heather!!!!
kat says:
Happy birthday! Be sure to get your giant margarita (if i assume you’re at the burrito place i’m thinking of)!
Dagny says:
Happy birthday! I think you should plan a big trip for your 25th.
nopasanada says:
Sadly, my 25th is right before an election. So the big trip is planned for a week or so from now. Wheeee!
Actually why am I saying ’sadly’? I mean Thank God, there will be an election right after my 25th.
KassyK says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!! XO
Bone says:
Happy birthday, pal.
Here’s to non-analytical burrito enjoyment!
Shannon says:
This post reminded me of how my older brothers asked me when I was 4 years old how many kids I wanted to have when I grew up, and I said, “24.”
Thank goodness some goals change. Haha.
Happy Birthday!
Missy says:
Happy Birthday!
Kim says:
Happy Birthday!
I wish I could share a story about when I turned 24 but I think that was the year I discovered Jager…
asoom says:
Happy Birthday!!!! I’m almost 24, I actually can’t wait! 23 sucked and 24 looks like it’s going to be a good year. For one, I’ll be going into it at least 30 lbs lighter!
LVGurl says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
(yesterday
Kelly says:
Happy Birthday, you young thing, you! (I turned 40 yesterday - bahh!)
Jennifer says:
I’m impressed that as an 8 year old you made a timeline! i was playing barbies! Happy late B-day. I lurk your blog everyday. I love it.
Alison says:
Well, hey, I missed it. But Happy Belated Birthday!
(Also? I had a kid when I was three months shy of 25. My daughter is now 12 going on 30. Just FYI and tempus fugit.)