Happy birthday to me
Today marks my 29th year of life.
How did I get so old? And so incredibly wise? Like an anthropomorphic owl wearing red-framed spectacles.
Just kidding, I am a screaming infant trapped inside a body that according to Encyclopaedia Britannica is going through ‘progressive physiological changes that lead to senescence, or a decline of biological functions and of the organism’s ability to adapt to metabolic stress.’
Reading that brings stress to more than just my metabolic.
But despite the apparently rapid decline into senescence, this past year has been unforgettable. Even in the grasps of dementia, I will sit in my retirement home, tucked up in a lavender quilt, telling stories of this year to uninterested grandchildren with the attention span of a goldfish.
It will be fabulous!
Because this year has been an adventure to rival Bilbo’s. A culinary feast to make a Hogwarts banquet look bland. A visual spectacle to make Hollywood retire defeated and ashamed. This year been special beyond a doubt and I don’t ever want to take for granted what I have been able to see and feel in the year of 28.
On the 31st of August 2018, I celebrated not only my 28th birthday but my final day of work. I put on the flamingo party glasses that had been placed on my confetti covered desk. I pushed aside the balloons and banners and stared lovingly at the array of personal jokes that littered my office. From the dictionary definition of my nickname and the associated verb ‘Lalafy’ to a satanic doll hanging from the ceiling, the past four years had been filled with so much happiness, hard work, and fun.
How hard is it to leave a job, right? And a life?
In the days that followed we packed up my little house and bundled up boxes of things to be stored in the garages of family. We visited Regan’s gorgeous family in Oamaru and then my equally gorgeous family in the Coromandel. We cuddled and kissed goodbye our parents, siblings, and my adorable baby niece. We cheers’d our friends for the last time for goodness knows how long. And we boarded that large metal tube and hurled ourselves across the sky to Bali to begin what would prove to be a truly bewildering experience.
Every country we visited had towering highs and punishing lows. Every day was filled with challenges that had I been doing it alone, would have petrified me. But every day I had this incredible man by my side. Guiding me through the trials and keeping his cool when I got overwhelmed. Letting me know that I was always safe.
With him behind the handlebars, we explored incredible remote beaches, climbed to the top of volcanoes (and once into one!), ventured into the depths of the Sumatran rainforest to observe my beloved Orangutang’s, and dived to the depths of the ocean where I overcame a life long fear of life below the waves. We ate frogs, snails, laksa, mystery meat, bánh mì, mango, mango, more mango, and far far too much nasi goreng. We ate more street food than you could shake a stick at. And no stomach upset could stop us. And that was just the first few months!
One year later, I can’t even begin to comprehend what we have seen and done. I feel like the most spoilt little brat in the whole wide world. But nobody could say that I haven’t appreciated it. Every moment has been a blessing. Every second will stay with me forever.
Thank you to all the beautiful people I have met along the way. From fellow travellers to kind guest house owners to tuk-tuk drivers with an impressive collection of dirty jokes. It is the people who have made this experience so special.
In particular, there has been one person who has been there every step of the way. Day in day out, we have explored this planet side by side. Have ya met him? He’s a bit of a cutie.
In a week, I start a new job and the hardest bit isn’t going to be getting up earlier or sitting at a desk in monotony for many hours. It’s going to be doing it all without my silly man by my side, making me smile and taking control of the admin. This past year has been an adventure, unrivalled in my life. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have shared it with him.
This year I have learnt just how much I can achieve and withstand when I move outside of my comfort zone. When I push myself to try things that might frighten me. When I make friends instead of shying away. When I ignore the butterflies making a tornado in my stomach and just get out there and soak in all that life has to offer.
So in conclusion, happy birthday to me! May this next year be filled with new and old friends, terrifying adventures, unexpected revelations, and really big surprises.
Thank you for making 28 incredible and bring on the year of 29.
