I'm old...

...at least that is what my 12 year old, Christopher, says. I just turned 33 on Dec. 14th. 33 isn't old is it? When did 33 become old? Oh, yeah, that's right, when I was 12! I don't feel any different. Aren't you supposed to feel different as you age? I feel exactly the same inside that I did at 18...just maybe more tired and out of shape...an definitely smarter. I was a fool at 18. I thought I'd never get older. I'd be young and hot for all the days of my life. See, a fool.

Every year my mom calls me at 11:13 to sing to me the same song she has sung since I was born..."Happy Birthday to you, You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too". Isn't that sweet? I couldn't live without that song though. Then she tells me the story about the day I was born. I'm her only child so I don't have to compete with any other memories of other pregnancies. Hee hee! Every year I learn something new and she always reminds me that I was born 13 days late, the day after Fri. the 13th at 11:13. She tells me about momentarily forgetting she was pregnant and whacking her belly on the washing machine. How she thought she would be pregnant forever. That my dad swore spicy food would make me come out...and it did. And esp. how she thought I was the ugliest thing she ever saw...at least for the first few days. Then I was the most beautiful thing ever. I enjoy every moment of the story every year and I do the same for my kids. They also love to hear about every detail of the beginning of their life and I love reliving it.

This was the first year my dad didn't call to sing me the same song. Even though he died in June I still eyeballed my phone. I knew it wouldn't ring but I wish it had. I miss you dad.