Hi. Damn cup.
Been awhile, again…I know. My cup continues to runneth over and ya, I’m still enjoying the flow. That’s good, right? In the last few weeks, my baby turned 24, and a week later I turned, well…a year older.
I also got to spend a few days in Ventura. Although I had a wonderful time, it was a little bittersweet. So many memories there! But…the place I called home is now occupied by a stranger. There are no papasan chairs on the patio, laughter can no longer be heard a block away and the garage is lacking chaos. Deanna, my Ventura roommate, my BFF, has since moved out of state. It was kinda heartbreaking, but I was in great company and it was so refreshing just to be there again. The only thing lacking? My camera. I know, huh? I beat myself up at first and soon realized how nice it was to just take in and enjoy my surroundings. I did however have my pee-pee cell phone camera and couldn’t resist a few shots! Go ahead…click on ‘em!

This was probably one of the best birthdays I’ve had in a long time (Especially when you compare it to the one that was forgotten a few years back….I know.) My day started with an incredibly special Happy Birthday text message sent to me at exactly 12:00 a.m. The continued love I felt throughout the day was overwhelming, I kinda felt like a Princess…Princess Heidi. My friends and family are just awesome. Holla! The celebration (of Princess Heidi) continued that weekend with a get together of friends, both old and new. When I say old, I’m so not friggin’ kidding! Some of them I have celebrated my birthday with since I was 15 years old, and now I’m, well…older. The picture to the left is at my 16th birthday, the one on the right from this birthday. There are 4 of the same people in each one, can you tell who’s who? And really…what birthday would be complete without a group signed birthday card that reads,
Te Quiero, Mamita? I also received one of thee most heartfelt and special gifts imaginable, one I will forever hold near and dear to my heart, a $5.00 gift card to McDonalds. Earlier this year, I wrote Confessions To An Angel, in honor of my aunt who passed away earlier this year. Here is a small portion of it,

It has been 48 days since my Aunt Bobbie passed away, yet the reality of it it still unfathomable. I often find myself picking up the phone to call her, or making a mental note about something I need to tell her. I miss her laugh, her words of wisdom. I miss talking to her, I miss her.
I sat with her for a few hours, alone, just before she passed away. I laughed, I cried. I told her it was o.k. to go, I threatened she better not leave me. I talked and talked and talked (as usual)…she listened, (as usual) occasionally squeezing my hand or just giving me a simple sigh, letting me know she was present in the conversation.
I don’t remember exactly what I did or didn’t say, but I know there was, and never will be enough time or words to say everything I wanted…or needed to say A few things I may…or may not have forgotten…
• I am sorry for draining your phone battery nearly every time we talked.
• I will miss my $5.00 gift certificates to McDonalds in my birthday card each year.
• Thank you for being my babysitter, my aunt and my friend.

As my friend handed me the card, he said, ‘I remember reading about your aunt and this was one of the things you were going to miss…’ I couldn’t tell you the conversation following that. I was so touched and so moved by the gesture, not only was I breathless, I was speechless….and if you know me, that’s a feat in itself! So thank you to this very special friend for remembering not only me, but my Aunt Bobbie as well! I told you my friends were awesome, I am truly blessed to have them in my life! Holla!
I have kinda always thought birthdays should last the whole month but I have yet been able to convince anyone else of that. The festivities have come and gone, the memories however will remain a lifetime! Here’s to another fun-filled year. I’m already looking forward to next year so I can once again feel like a Princess…Princess Heidi.