I [finally] had a birthday

As you probably know, I had a birthday.

I love new beginnings, and a birthday is the most personal new beginning we can each have.

My sister commented that I was very excited about my birthday considering how old I turned.  After strongly letting her know that 24 is not old, I told her that we all have to turn the next number each year, so we might as well look forward to it.  Besides that, I love any reason to celebrate with those I love, especially over good food.

However, my birthday did not start off with good food.  It started out at Cracker Barrel.^^  (Sorry to those of you who are loyal.)  For the longest time Preston and I have joked about stopping at every Cracker Barrel we pass along the freeway.  I had never been to one before, and Preston insisted that part of our mortal initiation, along with things like learning to ride a bike and graduating high school, is eating at Cracker Barrel.

Well, consider me initiated.  In our dizzying optimism, we thanked Cracker Barrel for putting food in our bellies.  And then we checked it off our list and forever (fingers crossed) put it behind us.

Next up was the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which was wonderful.  I love museums.  And to those of you already thinking it, Yes, I'm an utterly annoying museum goer...I take pictures at museums that allow it (gasp!).  I know.  Strangle me if you wish.  But I want to remember what the art inspires in me.

^^Take this lovely lass.  Isn't she stunning?  Don't you get butterflies in your stomach just looking at her and feeling the wind around your legs, breathing in the sea?  And when you read that her father is the painter, and they are at their summer getaway, the experience is that much sweeter.

^^Does not this scene make you relive every childhood fairy tale in one moment? 

^^I can't "pin it," so I obviously had no choice but to snap a shot of my future couch.

^^No one can put magic into the daily grind like Rockwell.

Yep.  I "nerd out" in museums.

Shopping followed the museum, and then a fancy dinner downtown and a stroll through the city streets ended our day.

(I'm going to interrupt myself for a second: Oh my gosh why don't I carry my real camera???!  So disappointed that grainy was the best we could get for the rest of the night. :(  Darn.)

I am no good at taking it easy, yet I'm blessed with ample time to myself to do as I please.  Many a person has told me to enjoy this rare time to just relax.  Instead, I write list upon list of things to accomplish in a day and then ignore it because I want "freedom", causing unnecessary guilt.  So, one of my new goals is to fully partake in whatever I'm doing.  If I'm taking it easy, then I'm going to really do that--without thinking of all the things I could or should be doing besides reading.

I'm looking forward to another year of adventures, tough times, lessons learned, and colorful memories.

Thanks for the many birthday wishes and messages of love.  I'm truly and deeply grateful.

And to any of you with a nearby birthday, have a good one. :)