Yesterday was my birthday, and what a day it was. I was a roller coaster of emotions, but it ended up being a wonderful day.

I woke up early to go to work. I sit at one of the desks in the fitness center, so I basically get paid to do my homework. Not very eventful, but then I scurried off to get lunch and head to rehearsal for a sketch comedy show (which is tonight!). After rehearsal, I wandered around the quad taking pictures of people at Lutefest for my photography project. By this point, I had only run into a couple people who wished me a happy birthday.

I returned to my room and just hung out, watching YouTube videos and getting calls from family. A call from my mother broke my heart a little. My grandmother is terminally ill with lung cancer, so my mom and my uncle alternate taking care of her, since she can't be by herself anymore. My mom has been so busy taking care of my grandma that she couldn't find much time to really do anything special for me on my birthday except send a card, so she felt really bad. I told her not to feel that way, because I understand what's going on and grandma needs people with her, but I know she still felt horrible. That's just the way she is. So that put me in a bit of a sad mood.

Later, I had dinner with my roommate and some friends, and continued to receive birthday wishes. Although I found it odd that some people didn't even acknowledge that it was my birthday. I mean, people whom I would expect to remember. I found it strange and tried to dismiss it, but it kept bothering me. Even after dinner, I found myself in my room just hanging out by myself. And I kept thinking, "This is wrong. I shouldn't be spending my birthday alone." Of course it is getting to be the end of the semester, so I wondered if everyone simply had too much work to do.

My sister called me, and I went over the situation with her, asking if it was selfish of me to be a little disappointed. She told me to take the initiative if no one else was going to, so I resolved to rally people together to walk into town and get ice cream. My roommate and one of my friends were in the room at the time, so we watched a couple episodes of Friends before heading downstairs.

To my surprise, a great, big group of my friends was waiting for me in the lobby. They all sang to me before leading me out to the woods behind one of the dorms where we played Ghost in the Graveyard and had lots of fun. After a while, it was "highly suggested that we return," so we went back to our dorm. Once in the lobby, a friend covered my eyes while people ran past me into the coffeehouse. Another friend grabbed my arm and I was blindly led into the coffeehouse, only to find everyone there with cake and ice cream and presents. Everyone sang to me once more and I blew out the candles, making a wish and feeling like I would cry.

It was a wonderful birthday, and it made me realize just how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life. I have a loving family and incredible friends here, back home, and in other places. I don't know if people realize this, but I am a very emotional person and I love with all of my heart. As I blew out the candles, I made a wish. I won't say exactly what it was, but it involved my friends and hoping that we would always have each other in one way or another. I love each and every one of them so much with all of my heart, and I hope to never lose them. I will never doubt that bond again.