Ad Astra.

Today was my 18th birthday. And I spent the day with my family going to Chevys for the first time (when you’re Mexican, there’s no need to go to Mexican restaurants). The rest of the day was spent watching my absolute favorite cartoon show while I was a little kid, Digimon, and doing a little bit of some homework. But the picture above doesn’t describe what happened today.

On Friday my friends and I gathered to go to BJ’s to celebrate an early birthday “dinner” of some sorts. It was the first time since I was four years old that a gathering of any kind, be it friends or family, occurred to celebrate my birthday. So many friends came to say ‘happy early birthday” to me. I was very much moved by their presence. One of my closest friends bought me a pizzookie (if you’ve yet to have one, I suggest you go to BJ’s as soon as possible), and then a few minutes later another friend remembered that BJ’s gives out free pizzookies to people who are celebrating a birthday.

So I got another, although it was considerably smaller. Good thing; I couldn’t handle eating another normal-sized pizzookie. When it came, it had a candle on it. The waiter lit it up, and my friends gathered around and sang “Happy Birthday”. I was then given what you see in the pictures. That really surprised me. So many of my friends wrote some of the nicest things. I teared up on the ride from BJ’s to my school’s basketball “Homecoming” game.

These past few days have been some of the best of my life. I’m too moved to even describe the appreciation I have for my friends and family. I’m surrounded by so much love. And probably for once in my life, I can see it. A new and exciting chapter begins in my life, but I’ll always look back on the written pages in the book that is my life. I may be 18 and considered an adult, but at heart I will always be a kid.