Nott What You'd Expected...

Older and .... Wiser?

Today was the first time in my life that I was, and this is a huge technicality, older than my wiser and more popular sister, Katie. Born 40 minutes before me, without teeth and not breech, she was gifted with the ability to hold it over my head- 40 minutes is still 40 minutes, thus relegating me to the pathetic role of Middle Child.

As the clock struck midnight in England, poor Katie was still sloshing through a foot of sewage (sorry about that, not the best way to start the summer) in her summer living space, thinking about what to wear on the big night out. So there. Biologically, not so much, but sneakily with the help of time zones and legal drinking ages, I've been living the high life for 6 hours longer...
Turning 21 in the UK is like going shopping for Christmas presents with your mom in March, and then opening them in December. Being able to buy drinks, the only reason anyone gets excited about 21, has been a way of life.... make that a very small yet convenient... part of living in the UK. Having experienced the 'thrill' of ordering drinks at a bar without ID or partaking in the English past time of walking around with open containers, 21 has lost its luster. Even the word luster is a bit strong.

I won't wax philosophic on the pressure put on birthdays, 21 especially, but there is a certain ALL EYES ON YOU (or me, or that person) quality to birthdays that can be a bit unnerving. I promise I'll have fun. I promise I'll be safe. I promise I won't make Carol feel bad for asking Hilary what she wants on her cake for Wednesday but forgetting my birthday entirely. These I promise.
The difficulty arises in the fact that, surprise surprise (bad, sarcastic surprises), M and C have scheduled Major Exams for this morning (ergo, no partying last night at midnight), and a huge paper worth 25% of the final grade for Thursday at noon.

So, subdued partying will take place, or is taking place as I type- bottle of gin in one hand and mouse in the other- but all mental capacities are focused on British Novels rather than Blood Alcohol Contents..


In flatnews, Mary's buddy from Luther (our 18th Lutherite to visit? I exaggerate) Andrea is going to be here today, just in time for festivities... hopefully we won't shock her with our lack of Fratboy Party Skills that have waned since last being in the states.... maybe she will provide an injection of Good Ole USA GetrDone badditude that this flat needs right now in a time of high stress...

Happy Birthday Katie, Carl, and anyone else kickass enough to be born on the Ides of May.

posted by Kevin @ 11:15 AM