Twenty-eight years ago, that was me. Junior Bridesmaid at the wedding of a family friend. The best part of the whole night for me was my bouquet (fake flowers so I got to keep it and play "wedding" over and over and over and...) and hanging out with my dad. You can tell how much fun we had. I didn't learn about the true high part of the evening until many years later. The mother of the groom offered the best man $20 to talk her son out of marrying the bride. The best man took the $20, said, "Joe, your mom doesn't want you to marry Deborah." Joe said, "No shit." and headed down the aisle.

But that's a story for another day.

The story of the day today is that it's my thirty-eighth birthday. I don't have any words of wisdom or "secret facts about me" to report to you today. My mom sent me an e-mail today remembering that when they went into the hospital to have me it was still feeling like winter in East Tennessee, and when they brought me home, spring had burst forth into full and glorious color. I, of course, don't remember that day. A few funny stories have entered the family lexicon, however. Like how my mom's OB took my dad out for pie while my mom was in labor with me. And how after she woke up (hello, twilight sleep) she kept asking, "Did I have that baby yet?" My favorite is when my dad went into see my mom after I was born, she was alone in her room (hello, nursery!). They chatted a bit ("It's a girl!") and my dad left the room, leaned against the wall of the hallway and promptly passed out. Hello parenthood.

Birthdays have been historically crummy for me, but this year I have a wonderful family and many friends who are taking care to make sure I have a good day. Nothing but good times ahead.