My 21st Birthday

I just celebrated my 21st birthday yesterday, and I don't feel a day older. I guess birthdays don't really get to make you feel old. Experience does.  I think the last time I felt to have gotten a year older was when I took the Nurse Licensure Exams. After months of sleepless nights and torture of all sorts, I felt like being out of my old skin. I felt different, certainly far from being a perplexed and overly sensitive teenager. I think what made my birthday slightly tangible was the outpouring of people who greeted me their happy birthdays. Even people I was no longer in touch with were sending me their greetings.

Recently, I have been very vocal about our family experiencing problems of different magnitudes, and health issues concerning our Lolo being the most disturbing of them all. But we guessed we desperately needed a break so as to lighten up our loads and somehow be recharged, and my birthday was indeed the perfect time to break free.

I started my big day by hearing the 8 am mass with my family. I thought this was the perfect way to start the day. I believed that through this, I would be given the chance to personally thank Him for He has given me another year to fulfill my purpose and be with the people I dearly love.

My family and I decided to spend the rest of the day in Subic. Aside from the fact that the place was just a stone's throw from ours, Subic is indeed a magnificent place whenever you feel like strolling and wanting some affordable forms of relaxation, and perhaps, needless to say, being able to enjoy the wonders of nature, free of charge.

We chanced to see the beautiful sunset by the bay. Seeing the timid sun as it disappeared from behind the mountains gave me a sense of tranquility and peace. Letting the gentle sea breeze freely penetrate my nose was so liberating. While I was observing astonishing waves roll onto the shores, the subtle memories that I have stored at the back of my mind in my 21 years of existence suddenly flashed before my eyes. And for the first time in my life, I felt like crying. People know I don’t usually cry, and I can poster up a calm demeanor in the face of heart wrenching situations. Many believe that I am this strong hold that wouldn’t budge (Or so I think). But the moment these memories seemed to be touching my sensitive core, tears just welled up on my eyes, and I was badly trying my very best not to let the tears stream down on my cheeks. Pent up tension was rushing from my body, like a tide bursting open from a dam. The picturesque scene overlooking the wonders of the Earth was indeed more than enough to turn an emotional wreck into maudlinness. I haven’t yet experienced anything that is comparable.

It has dawned on me that life is really not unfair after all.  And all of my reservations were suddenly proven futile. Life has reminded me to be more thankful and appreciative of what I have and not whine about the things that I don’t/couldn’t possibly have. Life is indeed full of trickery, and it is up to you on how you would deal with them. 

Thanks for the unconditional love.

Me and my ever-loving mom.

 We ate at Gerry's Grill. And yes, the food made us all ecstatic.

Then agreed to have some bottles of alcohol at 17th Avenue, Northwalk I.

And to formally end the night, we all headed to Starbucks SM Pamp to have some doses of caffeine that could help us all sober up. So much for being Starbucks fiends.

We were home at exactly 12 am. I really had a blast, and true enough, it is one of the most memorable birthdays I've ever had. I am loved. And blessed.