Post Birthday Post

I turned 28 years old.
I took lots of pictures of the day.
And fortunately, four days later I finally found my camera cord. It was in exactly the same spot I've kept it for the last 9 months. But in my defense, it was hidden under like three pens and a hair clip.
And so here, in this post-28th-birthday-post, we will visually celebrate the commemorative anniversary of my birth.


I started the day with my (Aunt) Grandma Judy, my dad, and my mom, heading to the Aunt Ilah's funeral. I know how to kick off a birthday the right way.

Are my parents the cutest thing ever, or what?

And oh my gosh...everybody needs an (Aunt) Grandma Judy!

Right after the funeral the four of us headed over to Primary Children's Medical Center for lunch and a visit to my cute nephew Jack. I tried to share my drink with this unicorn-looking horse, but he wanted nothing to do with my Diet Coke. Silly horse.

This is me with my fantastic brother-in-law Brian. I'm so glad he's a part of our family. Oh, and this is me in a mask 'cause that's what we do when we visit Jack. I'm holding the beautiful painting Jackson made me for my birthday. He made it by squirting paint out of medical syringes. :)

A hundred million zillion emotions and feelings associated with this birthday picture. Believe-you-me.

This is the "Go Team Jackson!" bracelet he gave me. His were my two favorite presents by far.

My cute sister Connie. My inspiration. The one I want to be like when I grow up.

After the funeral, Jack's visit, and sending Judy on her way back to Richfield, I made my way over to visit my Opa. I haven't seen him in a few weeks and we'd been warned that he didn't have much time left for this world. What a delightful man. I'm priviged to have him forever with me in my heart.

He's skinny in this picture. And it was the first time I've ever seen him without a button-down shirt, tie, and/or sweater vest on. T-shirts look strange on him. It's not my Opa's uniform. He mumbled a lot and coughed every time he drank something. But his heart was the same. His words of grattitude, his gentle jokes, and his advice all came like normal. What a gentle beacon of light and hope in an ever-darkening world.

After leaving Opa I came across this sign on a Bangerter Highway overpass. They spelled 28 wrong (putting 13 instead) and thought my name might be Celeste...but they loved me enough to do this for me. Thank you, dear strangers in Riverton.

My mom says that I spent my birthday with the dead and the sick and the dying...but there were some lively folks in there too. This is me at my birthday dinner that night with some of my dear friends: KC, Ashley, (me), Chalese, Eric, and Lewis. How I love them all!

KC and Ashley only ordered dessert, not dinner. From the looks of it I think they made the right choice!

The "Iggy's Sports Grill" crew sang to me and gave me this personally signed card. They love me.

After dinner Bruce joined up with us and we all went to see "Harry Potter 23 and the Magical Unicorn's Birthday" ...or I think that's what it was. I can't keep all the Harry Potty movies straight. There were a couple of ladies selling magic wands outside the theater. "We won't buy them Ma'am, but do you mind if we use some to pose for a picture?" (I mostly love the look on Lewis's face. This is his "Magical" expression.)

I took this picture of the screen during the previews. Bruce said that's not allowed. I told him it's my birthday.

I like this picture...because it shows what happens in a dark theatre when I forget to warn my friends I'm taking a picture. I blinded them all with the camera flash. Hah!

This is post-Harry Potter. I think the facial expressions tell all. Note Chalese's finger-moustache...that girl cracks me up.

To properly document the momentous birthday experience...

The night wrapped up at Lewis's house where Chalese performed a special birthday song for me on her ukelele. It was seriously fantastic.

So as you can clearly see...I know how to rock a birthday. And no mom, it wasn't just about visiting the dead and the sick and the dying. Birthdays are also not about presents...not the wrapped-with-a-bow kind, anyway. Birthdays are about being with the people you love. Birthdays are about doing whatever you want. Birthdays are about finding things you want to recognize and celebrate and commemorate. I'm happy to be 28 years old. I'm happy to have so many people that love me and are willing to celebrate with me. I'm happy to be given this gift of life, love, and learning.

Cheers.