HAPPY BIRTHDAY
July 26th 2007 14:18
Last year, on my birthday, Eva and I snuck into a golf course.
It was late at night. I sat on the top of the fence. “You sure we should sneak in here?”
“You wuss,” she said. “Just put your leg over and jump down.”
“It’s pretty bloody high.”
“You’re just scared. Scaredy cat.”
After a lot of embarrassing convincing, I jumped down the fence and onto the greens. We ran to some grass that was dry. We unrolled a mat and sat on it.
“Let’s put our party hats on.”
We lit a candle and Eva sang Happy Birthday. I blew the candle, forgetting to make a wish. I played a ringtone from my mobile phone. It was the theme song for Rocky, in MIDI format.
“Wow. That’s romantic, Dean.”
We lay down and stared at the eternal whatever. We talked about things like parties and people who have tried to kill themselves lately and who haven’t. I told her that I’m thinking about starting a blog that was partly based on my life. She told me that it’s a pretty lame idea – who would read a blog about an eighteen year old in Brisbane? Maybe I should write something about celebrities or fashion or movies or iPods or politics or something. I said, “No, that wouldn’t work. Diary based blogs are where the money’s at.”
We kept looking up. I started to say something, but stopped myself.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No, what were you going to say?”
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
I had wished for a wishing star to appear, but it didn’t. It probably didn’t appear because there was no wishing star to appear for me to wish that a wishing star would appear in the first place.
But something did appear. It came from the moon. It wasn’t something I could see. It wasn’t something I could hear. It was something that I felt. Something about the future. I nodded and understood, even though I wasn’t sure if I could accept it. I felt sad.
I poked the moon with my finger. "Let's make a promise."
"What promise?"
"Let's always be eighteen."
Eva thought for a moment. "Okay."
We lay a little longer, just staring, thinking about our own things.
I took my party hat off. “Thank you. For all of this.”
“Happy birthday.” It was dark, so I could not see where we both were.
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
Then again, that's what I say now. Ask me tomorrow and you may get a different answer.
Happy Birthday!
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Happy Birthday! That sounds like an excellent way to spend a birthday.
I still feel 18 myself and it was nearly a decade ago that I left it behind... it`s all a state of mind isn`t it? You can be 18 forever if you choose to be (well until the body starts getting a little rickety but we have to time enjoy not having to think about that!)
You have a gorgeous view of the world... you will never outgrow that. I hope the wish you made with the moon is sad for good reasons.
ash
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Happy Birthday!!!
Doesn't time just tick on? It's almost 15 yrs ago that I was 18 (christ now I feel old!). I still feel about 18 though. 18 was fun, but I like being the age I am. I like to think that the age you are is the best age you can be (though I could be hedging my bets, cos I don't want to be a sad old git desperately trying to relive my youth!!! hahaha).
I hope that 19 is at least as exciting as 18.
Kylie
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
>: D<
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Yeah, eighteen was one crazy age. I wonder what this year will have in store for me.
Don't worry, I think I just might ask you tomorrow
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Thanks for the greeting!
So much has changed since that birthday last year. As some may know, Eva has now moved to Sydney.
I'm happy that you still sometimes feel 18. I sometimes feel 12. Sometimes I wish I was a kid again and get away with picking my nose.
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
How's it hangin? Yes, I look forward to being in this year too. I heard that years get shorter, the older you become. I guess it's sort of true. How's your year going? Never too old to have fun, right?
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Thank you!!! yeah, I guess I'll talk about this year's birthday NEXT year.
Have a good one ahead!
Comment by missnomer
I am 44 and I have been 16 my whole life...I dont thoroughly recommend it...its hard on the body...
and the mind.....well my mind was always the problem and my IQ always larger than I ever let on..so I had to dumb it down to fit in..
I was a barmaid when I was 16...I had my 18th in a bar in the X...the boss nearly fainted when he found out his best barmaid had been underage for 2 years.....
Too me..a soul is as young or as old as the experiences they choose to learn lessons from...and as I am dyslecsic and blah blah....I have full right to run amok..as I embark into the reality of being "middle aged".. I have nothing but memories...I have worked lived and travelled all over the world..but..if I was 18 again...I'd swap it all for a house in the burbs with a man who loved me and the promise of familyX
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Happy Birthday (again) *chuckle* I've been turning 18 for years now....
I am so glad you decided to stick to your guns and start this blog as your life journal... your words are always so poignant and ripe with the spirit of life.
Always a pleasure!
Lilla ...
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
It's an absolute pleasure hearing from a 16 year old
You sound like you had an interesting life. I'd like to read about it some day. A friend of mine is working underage. A bunch of other people are know are being underpaid.
I like what you wrote:
Thanks for the advice. On that note, if anyone is reading my comments, I'd like to ask:
If ever given the opportunity to live life again, would you have made anything different?
s
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Thanks for the greeting. I'm spoilt with your greetings
Always great hearing from you. Hope all is well!
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I'm enjoying your blog and Happy Birthday!
I'm 23 right now and I think the promise you made to yourself is a wise one indeed. You're only as old as you think you are, as other people have already said!
Epiphanie
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
I love that name. It's good to meet a fellow eighteen year old
Enjoy your read!