Birthdays

Today is my 21st birthday.

It's a big one... at least that is what people say. I am legal now. Birthdays don't really mean much to me. No one feels any different the day of their birthday than the day before. Well, perhaps. I bet a lot of people feel different when they turn 21.. but since I don't drink, I wouldn't know. And most people that do drink, already have, so the 21st birthday is really just an excuse to get plastered.

Birthday wasn't bad this year. Last night, I went out to dinner with my sister, and then did a double date with her, her boyfriend, and the boyfriend's roommate. It was fun. Would have been more fun to go with someone I actually know, but beggars can't be choosers, and since I couldn't come up with anyone myself, I can't complain about going with someone chosen for me.

There actually are some big things that come with turning 21... even for us LDS people who don't drink. First, at 21, I'm finally old enough to go on a mission. I always thought that I would serve, but now I just can't seem to make it work. Someday when it's right, it will, but there is some significance in being old enough to go if I so decide. The second almost goes right along with the first. There were many guesses made that I would be married, or almost married by the time I had to worry about deciding to go on a mission. Well everyone, here is my 21st birthday, and I have absolutely nothing in the men's department holding me back from going. No husband, no fiance, no boyfriend, no prospects. I'm as single now as I was the day I turned 16, 5 years ago. Sorry to all of you who thought otherwise, but I fully expect to graduate from BYU in two years unmarried. I'm thinking that old maid hood doesn't sound too bad. Heck I'm a pretty good knitter, and I could, might, maybe learn to like cats. Regardless, it's been a pretty good weekend. Look forward to seeing what the next year brings (marriage not being on that list, I assure you!)

Roommates

All students look forward to college life... I mean, what isn't to love about it. You get to pay to go to school, or not go to school as it is your choice to go to class or not. You get to pay for each of your 100 plus dollar text books. Pay to live. Pay to eat. If you want to do something social, that often involves money too.

Remind me again why we thought high school was so bad??

But best of all, the college experience is not complete without roommates! Roommates, like everything else in life come in all varieties. Quiet. Loud. Nice. Annoying. considerate. Disrespectful. Soon to be best friends. The ones who just want to get married. The ones that are getting married. The ones you wish would just get married because you don't want to live with them anymore. Molly. The opposite of molly. Vegan. Meat eaters. Well, you get the picture.

Having now lived with twenty-two girls in six apartments at three different colleges, I have experienced just about every type of roommate listed above. I believe I can honestly say that roommates make a world of difference in the experience one has at college. And while I can say that having roommates has been exciting, fun, and worth it, I also have no fear saying that in many ways I look forward to graduating, so I can have things in my house the way I want them to be.

Now, don't start thinking I'm anti college or anything. I wouldn't change my experiences for anything... not even the trying to transfer college credits from three different colleges... though I don't recommend it. I love college, and all the experiences I've had. There are just some that I think I could handle being done having. Of course, I still have two years ( and who knows how many more roommates) before I'm done with my undergrad, and another three years grad work, so perhaps I shouldn't be looking too far in the future yet. But someday I will control my own kitchen!