sweet 21

This year definitely made up for last year's blah. Ideally, I'd have been celebrating with everyone back home, but being a plane ride away didn't seem so bad this time. None of the regrets or the i-wish-you-were-heres. Today, it was cheer and love all the way. And lots of sweets to go around.

At midnight, the parents started dancing and singing around the living room, bringing out well hidden presents, a cake and a candle that blasted out a birthday tune (from Dragonmart, where else? :P) Mother happily snapped photos and Tats poured us our favorite apple-flavored poison. I slept like a baby afterwards.


My phone forced me to finally open at least one eye this morning, and a second later, a very loud rendition of the birthday song shocked my brain cells to life. What better way to start the day than hearing your best friends scream their good wishes from halfway across the world, right?

Fe apparently stayed up late last night to bake 21 delicious carrot cuppycakes for today. That, after walking around her project sites the whole day yesterday. Thanks, Fe :)


Reviving tradition, Tats had Kuya Allan bring me flowers signed, as always, Happy Birthday Kay with love from Tats and Nanay.


Around merienda time, a group of Vspace's boys took out a guitar and "serenaded" me, kinda. Well, asked for inuman and pulutan was more like it, but a serenade it was, nevertheless. Haha. A few minutes later, we were summoned downstairs. Lo and behold, another cake! And with magic candles too! They were magical alright, because they insisted on burning even after countless attempts at blowing the flames off. We almost set off the fire alarm, yikes.


We had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants and what do you know, I got another cake! At the end of our meal, the waiters came singing "Happy Birthday" and bearing a sumptuous blueberry cheesecake. Oh, yeah.


Friends and family from different parts of the world dropped in their greetings- through text, YM, Friendster, Facebook and Multiply. Technology really rocks sometimes. I was smiling at the computer the whole day. How nice it is to live in a virtually small world. :)

Overall, this could be one of the best birthdays I've had so far. There wasn't a loud party, or an excess of presents, or even mushy love letters, but, I can honestly say it was a very happy day. My heart feels light, my smiles are real, my laughter isn't forced. And of course, one can never have too many cakes. ;)


***

Thanks to everyone who made today extra special- from saying the simplest "hi" to staying for silly chats to making long distance calls to baking cupcakes till midnight- you guys have no idea how much it means to me.

Of course, to my wonderful wonderful parents who make sure that every day is extra special, I love you. Thank you.


And thank You, for giving me another beautiful day, a beautiful new year and an always beautiful life.

:)