A Crazy Birthday Indeed

It started with four dreams. In the first, my dad sold my dog and I was pissed off so bad. I was breaking things and hitting things; I woke up so angry that I couldn't sleep for about 45 minutes. Second dream: I was driving a large U-Haulish truck and got shot by a police officer. Third dream: don't really remember details, but it was odd. Fourth one: All I remember is seeing a picture of a young boy with the caption, "the last gentle prophet." Creepy, yet a good band name.

Finally decided to get up as to not have any more weird dreams at about 8. I've decided that if I stretch my hamstrings out, do some light ab work, and push ups in the morning I may be a healthy person, so hopefully I will keep that up. After the usual morning routine I went to Wellspring (Christian book store), bought "Postmodern Youth Ministry" and the Watashi Wa CD with a gift certificate that I got last night after a wonderfully filling dinner at Red Lobster and cake at Grandma's apartment. Then it was off to JC Pennys (with another gift card) to buy not one, but TWO jeans, bringing my grand total of wearable jeans up to three. Then to Barnes and Noble where I bought Kerouac's "On the Road," a book about travel mishaps, a German-English dictionary and a German road map. After that was Best Buy to buy Counting Crow's "August and Everything After," Simon and Garfunkal's greatest hits, and the Zwan CD. All that was bought with birthday cash. Oh yeah, and while I was at B&N my friend Sarah called from Cali, where she is spending her summer serving at a variety of places. We talked for a half hour about life and our summers and how she felt about Chad getting engaged (ex-girlfriend, etc.). It was great talking to her, shes going to change the world for Christ, just one of those people.

After that busy morning I spent the afternoon watching The Godfather II and cleaning the house for my party. It is rather odd that I threw my own birthday party, but if I didn't plan group fun, no one else would. It has come down to that, after this summer there really won't be anymore of the group around, so hopefully I won't be around either. I spent every last dollar I had for soda and food, so that was good. The party itself was alright, girls on the couch, boys at the table playing Axis and Allies. Then watching baseball and having ten conversations at once. It was good to see my friend Josh. I have known him since I became a Christian and worked with the Jr. high youth group. He was in my first 8th grade class. He kind of seemed to wander away, getting caught up with the not-so-great crowd, but he has seemed to mature well this past year. He is very intelligent, has learned to play the guitar really well, is well cultured, etc. He has been dating a girl that will be a junior in high school as he is going into college, they actually seem to be great for each other; I wouldn't have picked it, but hey, good for them. Eventually everyone left except Andrew and another Josh, so we smoked my birthday cigars on the porch and talked guy talk.

Overall, a below average birthday, nothing amazingly special, but it wasn't bad. I'm now 22, next year I'll be 23, and I'll wake up oh-so-soon and find that I'm 27. Kind of exciting, yet depressing all at once. Man, being older than the majority of your friends has a weird effect on you. Anyway, I'm looking forward to school, seeing Brad and my brothers and sisters at TIU. Eh, growing up, moving on. Such a wonderful season, yet with its many difficulties. God will lead me on. As for you; you have my love.