I am older, but SO much wiser

I turn 24 in 2 hours. Literally two hours too, since I was born exactly at midnight, well supposedly. I could've been born at 11:59 or 12:01. The doctors let my parents pick my birthday, either the 13th or the 14th. They obviously picked the 14th because it was a Sat., and they didn't want me being born on Friday the 13th. Thanks for having my back mom. Anyway I was fairly depressed about entering into my "mid-twenties," until I decided to reflect on years gone by for nostalgia's sake. I stumbled upon my old diaries when I was at home in Hastings today - and after reading them - I'm not going to lie, I'm a little grateful to be 24. Can we say stupidity of youth??? So, in humility, I am going to share one with you today, simply for humor's sake, and as an encouragement to embrace the wisdom that has come with our "aging." (OK I know we are still young, but it's still rough). So here you go. NO making fun people - I was 14.

3/5/98 - Dear Journal, Tomorrow we begin our 18-hour journey to Colorado! I'm just going to write a little story about how I dream the trip will be, okay!
(this is the story...hahahaha, spelling not corrected) I pulled myself toward the chairlift. I groaned when I realized that my companion left me alone for a twenty minute ride up the hill.

"Wait, wait!"

I looked back.

"Can I please ride up with you? My friends are waiting for me at the top."

I was looking into the face of the cutest boy in the world. "Sure," I said. Yes! Yes! Yes! I was thinking, I couldn't believe my luck! "So what's your name?"

"Jack Matthews," he replied, "and you?"
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"I'm Colleen, I'm from Minnesota."

"You are? Me too! What town?"

"Hastings."

"I'm from Woodbury."

"Neat." This just keeps getting better. We got into a conversation and started flirting.

"You know, you're pretty cute," Jack caught me offguard but I quickly got back in. I smiled sweetly.

"You're not that ugly yourself."

"Do you want to come skiing with me?" He asked.

"Sure but I'm not very good and my sister has to tag along.
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"That's okay, we'll ski easy."

So that's how me and Jack hit it off. He was 16 by the way, and because of him I had the best vacation ever!


CONVERT BACK TO REAL TIME
Hahahaha. I can't believe I just shared that with everybody. That was my pathetic little 14 year-old self. I didn't even include the songs I made up (seriously "Royal Blue Princess" would've been a hit) or the conversations I included with the boys I liked (Today I ran into (name) I said "Hi _________!" He said "Hi Colleen!, how's your dating life?" Then he got distracted. I wonder what how's your dating life mean -does it mean he likes me or he wants me to like someone else...) Ohhhh I feel SO much better about turning 24. I mean if I this smart now, just think of how smart I will be at 30;)

Moral of the story - getting older isn't so bad - well at least until you turn 35. Then your fertile years are over... OK peace out, and happy birthday to me. I've made it this far, and hopefully will have a lot farther to go.