Best. Half. Birthday. Ever.

Truth be told, I never paid attention to my half birthday until my Senior year of high school.  On February 13, 2001, I was asked to prom.  I had prayed for that day since the first day of freshman year, and I was determined to remember it when it happened.  So when a gangly teenage boy shouted out in the middle of a class reading of Othello, "Alas, Leslie, will you go to prom with me?" I immediately racked my brain for some significance to connect with the date.  After a few calculations, I realized that it was my half birthday!

For those of you who are not accustomed to celebrating your half birthday, I highly recommend that you try it out.  It has all the fun of a real birthday without the worry of getting older or the pressure for the day to be perfect.  It just has to be half perfect!  And sometimes, it ends up exceeding those expectations.

For instance, today, I went with my two Galentine's dates to see my favorite movie on the big screen.  And take my word for it, Jake Ryan looks even better when he's bigger than life.  I've said it before (Natalie), and I'll say it again...if you can look good in a sweater vest and rolled up jeans, you are officially hot.

After parting with the Brat Pack and my gal pals, I drove home listening to some good ol' country music and chomping happily on a giant heart-shaped cookie (thank you, Rachel!).  Then, just as I swung into my parking lot, thinking to myself that 28 ½ couldn't get any better, my headlights shone on a scene that proved me wrong.  Next to the dumpster sat a lonely and beautiful turquoise chair.  I mean, come on!  You know how much I love turquoise!  And sitting!  And you're probably not going to believe this (I almost didn't), but upon further inspection, I realized that this wasn't just any turquoise chair.  It was the turquoise chair that I had looked at longingly on many a walk with Layla.  For months I stared at this chair on someone else's porch, and now, here it is in my living room!  Just as beautiful and not at all lonely!

Oh, Happy, Happy, Happy Half Birthday to me!