I am having the best birthday in years.

Today is my birthday. I am 27. I am happy.

My last birthday was at my parents' house, no friends, in my boring-ass, red-as-shit hometown, where I hadn't lived for nine years. My stepmother thoughtfully bought me a red velvet cake, but that was it. My foreign partner of four years had just unceremoniously broken up with me, I had to move back to Texas against my will, and I had just, two weeks before, lost my job, pets, house, car, surrogate family, everything. The years before that were a pattern of my ex not really doing much. Year before last I got a copy of the bestseller "French Women Don't Get Fat" in a plastic bag from the book store. My last proper birthday "party", with friends and celebrating, was my 22nd.

This year I find myself living in a dream apartment (450 square feet of midcentury swank!), looking at the beautiful flowers my parents sent me, loving my the new job I just got in the field I now want to work in (which is a 10-minute walk from my house), with a cat I adore (I am allergic to cats - it's a mystery), with about six wonderful wonderful girlfriends and a crazy bunch of other assorted pals, feeling, for the first time in about three or four years, peace.

Nothing out of the ordinary at all has happened. Just a regular day. It's not even particularly sunny. But I am so happy. It makes a nice change. I really feel like this is a totally new year for me.

Thanks again to DU. I couldn't have made it, especially through those dark months behind the Pine Curtain, without y'all.

I'm so happy to hear you're having a good birthday. :toast:

Hey, you have the same birthday as my nephew. Except today is literally his birth day. :woohoo:

:toast:

How exciting. Can you tell us his name?

His name is Andrew Joseph. :)

I like the traditional name!!! How cool. I don't understand why more people don't go by "Drew" for short, though, instead of "Andy", which reminds me of a blond guy I went to elementary school with who had a runny nose. Or a nerd in general. No offense if he's named after you!!!! hahaha

:hi:

He's not named after me!

And actually, when my mom called to tell me, the first thing I said after I heard his name was "Tell Michelle (his mom) that I'm calling him Drew. Not Andy." My mom agreed, but now I'm kinda thinking I might call him AJ. ;)

:)

haha thanks

Happy Birthday! I'm happy that you're happy.

:toast: All my best wishes! :hi:

May you have many, many more days like today.:party:

It sounds perfect!

I'm really happy for you!!!:party: