I have always wondered why beyond a certain point it is socially unacceptable to ask a person’s age. Honestly, either you look old or you don’t – telling people your actual age is not going to change your outer appearance, so why not own it? And let’s face it, sometimes you just want to be able to ask “how old are you,” without feeling the awkward aftermath of having just asked an “extremely personal question”. Since when did age become so personal? Up until you are about 26, you shout your age freely, countdown to the day until you are legal, and revel in the excitement of cake and presents. So why does this excitement transform to dread past a certain year? Since when did age go from being a number to a being some kind of death sentence?
On my 20th birthday, I could not have been more excited to celebrate it here in London, my favorite city on earth, with some of my favorite people. I woke up – no, not feeling very different – but certainly feeling special. Upon coming back into the room after brushing my teeth I noticed on the door two printed picture collages and signs wishing me a happy birthday, signed by all of my flat mates. It was a very thoughtful effort headed up by Laura, and it was a perfect way to start the morning.
Andrea, Laura and I went to Raoul’s for a lovely birthday breakfast of French toast and eggs and it was delicious. We then came back to the flat, got ready for the day and went about our next birthday activity. Katie, Kristy, Laura and I headed to Covent Garden to go ice-skating at the beautiful Somerset House – a gorgeous mansion turned museum in the heart of the city. In the outdoor quad there is a picture-perfect ice skating rink, with a huge Christmas tree decorated with Tiffany and Co. decorations, which meant tons of teal – my favorites color. The tree was not as big as Rockefeller Center’s, but it was just as classy). Kristy hurt her ankle last week so after looking around, she headed back to the flat leaving Laura, Katie and I behind to skate on the rink for an hour. It was so magical, and a perfect afternoon activity. I proudly did not fall once, and while I would not classify myself as a pro, I certainly got the hang of it. They had classical music playing and it was so romantic and right out of movie.
After taking off our ice skates, we headed back into Covent Garden. This marketplace is one of my favorite areas in London. It is full of outdoor shops and booming with people weaving in and out of the stands, watching all the live performers – and of course, enjoying the very festive decorations dressing the storefronts for the holidays. Katie, Laura and I got some delicious jacket potatoes (this is the British term for a baked potatoes with tons of toppings to choose from – I got baked beans and cheese on mine and it was so delicious) and listened to some enthusiastic string instrument musicians play Christmas music in the square below.
We then headed back to the flat, showered, baked the funfetti cake that my mom sent me and got all dolled up for my birthday dinner at this posh Mexican restaurant called Las Iguanas located in Soho.
After taking our usual photo shoot of pictures, Katie, Kristy, Kelsey, Laura, Andrea and I got on the tube, and finally arrived at the restaurant where we met up with Robert and Gordon. I am not usually a big fan of Mexican but since I had not had it in forever, I was very much in the mood for a good enchilada and some margaritas of course! It was such a great meal with all my favorite people in London. We talked, laughed, drank and ate for about two hours. It was so great for the girls to meet the infamous Rob and Gordon and just as I knew they would be, they were so great to my friends. The boys also gave me these very bling-bling earrings for my birthday and I put them on immediately because they matched my dress so well. It was a perfect evening. The very nice and attentive waitress even brought out some cheesecake for me with a candle on it and they all sang to me. I can’t even write about it without having a big smile on my face. I just feel so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life to celebrate with.
After dinner, we parted with the boys and headed back to the flat to have more cake! It was soo hilarious because as I was blowing out the candles of my cake my hair almost caught on fire!!! AND, we got it on video! It is probably the most hysterical thing I have ever seen. I completely freaked out and my screams reached a pitch I did not know I was capable of – it has been classified as bird-like. I think I am going to send it to America’s Funniest Home Videos, and I think I will win J. The cake itself was seriously the most delicious cake I HAVE EVER HAD. Trust me, I have had my fair share of funfetti but something about this particular cake – maybe it was the fact my mama sent it over, or that Laura and I made it together with love, or the couple of margaritas I had before hand, but it was just to die for!
We hung around the flat for a little while just dancing around. The boys form upstairs joined the little gathering and we caught up with them for a while. At about 11:15pm we got our lazy butts out of the apartment and headed into the cold to Piccadilly Circus. After getting off the tube, we were wandering toward the nightclub Ruby Blue, when a club scout stopped us and lured us into Café de Paris – a very elite and upscale club that apparently Paris Hilton loves… I wonder why?! My cover charge was free because it was my birthday, which was AMAZING… but the poor girls had to pay 15 pounds each, plus 3 pounds for the coat check, which goes to show how elite the club is.
Once we got in, the music was amazing and eclectic from Britney to Michael Jackson throwbacks, to techno versions of radio favorites. We danced the whole night away with the exception of a little trauma incident – Katie got a little carried away and flipped her head into my face. My nose and lip began to drip blood in the middle of the dance floor, so laughing (because it really didn’t hurt that bad – again, maybe this was due to the margaritas J ) we ran to the bathroom where the attendant was a complete bitch to us despite the blood, but finally let me shove a tampon up my nose to stop the bleeding. It was pretty hilarious – first I almost light my hair on fire, and now I have a tampon shoved up my nose in front of the whole line of girls waiting to use the bathroom! Oh, good times, good times J. The bleeding stopped, and it was back to the dance floor. It was such a true nightclub – they had burlesque dancers up on the stage (and their true gender was anyone’s guess…) and confetti shot from the ceiling every hour. It was surreal and was the perfect way to end to an incredible day. Laura and I – the troopers – stayed until close, finally got our coats from the idiots behind the coat check who were delusional and lost the ticket we had handed them…. (that was frustrating), got on the 6 bus and made it home….slightly fat lip and all (luckily the swelling has gone down…it’s all good… I have done my fair share of head flips in my time, so I can understand the accident).
There was a moment in the club I will never forget. It was the four of us, Katie, Kristy, Laura and I, dancing together hugging and jumping up and down, in a fancy nightclub, in the best city in my world. I will never forget how special and honored I felt to be with those women in this city on my birthday.
I know I am only 20, and so my birthday is something I still look forward to (even though I am certain I will look forward to it even when I am 80 because it is a day all about me J ) but I find the negative light we cast on the reality of getting older a real shame. Even at the “ripe age” of 20, I am not immune to the worry that comes with age. No matter how young or old you are, every age comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Sure, no one wants to give up his or her youth because that means more responsibility. No one wants to be “over the hill,” because that somehow means you are at the halfway point to death. But I am pretty certain that the 16 year old who died in a tragic car crash never considered his 8th birthday as any “over the hill” milestone. In fact, I bet that birthday was an exciting and great day.
That is the beauty of this life. We seem to forget not only do we become wiser with age, but that age is absolutely no determinant of how long we are going to live. Every day could be your last, which is exactly why you have to take in every moment and cherish it. This is also why on every birthday, instead of dreading becoming one year older, we should simply feel blessed and grateful that we have made it another year on this earth. And if you have the chance to celebrate that day in London, I highly recommend it.
Love and hugs,
Jenny
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