What will 24 bring?

It's December...which means it's my birthday month...a month most know that I love.

As the dreaded 24 approaches (sarcasm marks, I realize I'm very young), I'm wondering what next year will bring...I seem to have this crazy idea in my head that my life can be normal for more than a week or two. False. Apparently, I don't do normal.

Allow me to take you on a walk down memory lane:
15: Lost on the way home from the airport. Rest stop phone call, "Can you come get us?" Freshman year of high school. Lots of "Magiera" calls in the hallway.
Actual 15th birthday? Spent in Disney World. Awesome. :)
16: "Dad thought he had a heart attack. It's okay though, he didn't. He's staying overnight at the hospital though, and I went to work, but I have to go now cause I'm making dinner and I have to make sure Jeff can still drive me to school tomorrow. Call me if you need anything--I just wanted you to know what's going on." I also had to call myself out of school when I was 16. That was a fun phone call...
me: "Hi, um I'm calling, because I'm not going to go to school today. My dad's in the hospital, and so I'm calling myself out."
office: "Can we talk to your mom?"
me: "Um, yes, but she won't have any idea what you're talking about...I can give you my dad's hospital room number though if you want.
I did eventually get my driver's license...and a Nissan Murano. Orange.
Actual 16th birthday? Spent in Disney World. I'm pretty sure this was the year Chris booked the German Pavilion for my birthday. The following years would prove to be much better planned.
17: "Dad, I broke my phone. I dropped it...cause Mom asked what my name was...and so now my phone is broken." Summer service trip to West Virginia.
Actual 17th birthday? Spent in Disney World.
18: Graduated from high school. Led a summer service trip back to West Virginia. Moved to California. Learned how to make my bed (thanks, Chris). Pepperdine. Sunburn. Sick. Often. That damn "stomach flu."
Actual 18th birthday? Spent in Disney World.
19: Still sick. Often. Nursing homes. DC. Cruise. Surgery. Fun.
Actual 19th birthday? Not sure. At home perhaps? This may have been the night we tried to go get steak for my birthday and failed. (My Favorite Inn was closed?) I do remember making everyone at my family celebration wear hats. Scooby Doo party hats.
20: Chemo. GREAT news...end of chemo. Health. Saw Matthew Perry in Ralph's. Got a MINI. Never knew how many options and choices there are when buying a car.
Actual 20th birthday? Twas fun, spending my 20th birthday in the hospital. I watched Friends. We brought cupcakes for the nurses. I told them it was the one day I would not be happy. Chris brought Panera to the hospital. It was nice.
21: A pretty tame year. Some Tri Delt drama, but let's be honest, life has been worse (see 20th birthday). Ooh, I also went trapezing. That was fun...and I got a dog.
Actual 21st birthday? Excellent. Ambiance. Chris, Dad, Megan, and me. Shots of jaeger. Fantastic steak. I approve.
22: Graduating from college. Learning how to teach kindergarteners. Moving all by myself. Vandalism to my car. Finances.
Actual 22nd birthday? Hm. Steak dinner? That's just a guess. I don't remember.
23: Finished my first year of teaching and my first year of grad school. Harassment. Lead kindergarten teacher-ness. Moved again.
Actual 23rd birthday? On my 23rd birthday, we woke up at 4 or 5 a.m. to call hospice. Fortunately by the time a nurse arrived, things were fine. It was an exciting day. We also went to a restaurant called Caribbean Breeze. A cute old couple brought cushions and lighted magnifying glasses to the restaurant. Hilariously awesome.

So, what could happen when I'm 24? I don't know. It should be fun.

Needless to say...HAPPY DECEMBER!