26

Happy birthday to me...
This year is going to be a year full of many changes. All I know is that this is the year I begin to live my own life the way it was intended.

It touched me to know how many people, who were or weren't blood related to me, remembered this day. It wasn't about the fancy gifts- it was the fact that they took significant time and effort to do something special for me. I hold these gifts dearest, with thanks to Alexa, Cecil, Xochitl, Leila & Al, and Washington.

On the other hand it was quite dismaying to know that my own parents forgot my birthday. 26 years ago my mother crapped me out at Kaiser Oakland. She remembers every detail, down to the route and room number she was in... Even the fact that my queasy Dad was present, traumatized by the atrocities of the birthing process.

I'm conflicted. I feel like I'm old enough and should be a bigger person to not take offense over something like this, but at the same time, I feel insulted that my own parents forgot. To add insult to injury, the next morning, my mother blamed ME for making her forget: I'm never home, I never spend time with them...etc. So it's MY fault they forgot my birthday.

So moving out is going to be a welcome change. I need some insight on how to grow up and be my own person before I can try again with my parents. All I know is I won't be forgetting any birthdays. Ever.