The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. - Frank Lloyd Wright

Today is my 16th birthday, and it was a good day. The first person of note I saw at school today was Jenell, and that's the best way to start any day. The rest of my day was passed rather pleasantly; all of my friends wished me a happy birthday, I leisurely enjoyed practicing my piano during my TA period, and despite the fact that i did rather poorly on my math quiz, I still had fun in there too. That math quiz was really hard, only two people in our class passed it, so i think it's going to be thrown out and we'll take another one. This makes me happy.

When I got home today I didn't have any homework, so I just sat around and read my book and then later on our whole family went out to Baskin Robin's for the annual free scoop night thingy. That's where I found out I might be able to get a job this summer at a coffee shop nearby because someone I know from my alma-mater has a friends who owns said coffee shop and might be willing to employ me. Joy! I might actually be employed this summer!

Now since today is my birthday I'm not just going to bore you with the details of my day. Nay! I am also going to bore with sentimental stuff about my life.

I have so many memories from my childhood that I cherish. Memories of playing Barbies with my best friend, cuddling with my mother every morning in summertime, going to work with my dad at RHS and watching my brother play Ocarina of Time on his N64. I remember our dog Buckwheat, (who has since passed away) and my Grandpa Keith and Grandma Dorothy who are no longer living. I wish I could hold onto those memories forever, and always keep those times and people alive in my heart, but I know with age those things will slip from my mind and I will forget. I hope those memories will be replaced with new good ones, but the thought of losing my past makes me sad none the less. I was almost dreading turning 16 last night because I am so afraid to lose my past. I long for the days when all I cared about was Barbies and my security blanket. I wish I could retain the innocence of my youth, though it would mean losing the so-called "wisdom" I have gained with age. This "wisdom" seems to me to be more skepticism and pessimism than anything else. As much as I enjoy being able to articulate myself well and doing "grown-up things" with my friends, I wish I could still be entertained by hours of dress-up and playing "house". It saddens me to see my innocent youth slipping away to be replaced by some cynical adult.

But despite my longing for the "good old days" of my childhood I still look foreword to the future. I have plenty to be excited about in my future and I look to the new experiences before me with great anticipation. Soon I'll be getting a job, getting my driver's license and starting my Junior year at RHS. My whole future is ahead of me and the only reason I have to dwell on the past is to thank God for all of his blessing throughout my life. I have a great family, awesome friends and an above-average existence. Life is good, it's gonna get better, yay!

I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

- Five For Fighting "100 Years"