twenty-seven

Today has probably been the most revelatory birthday I've had so far. Well, there Was my ninth birthday when I got a note saying that on my Tenth birthday I could get my ears pierced. This may at first seem kind of anti-climactic...like, "well, why couldn't you have just gotten them pierced on That birthday?" or "why didn't they just wait to tell you when you were ten?".

I'll just go ahead and tell you that I was the most excited I had been in a long time. From the moment I first was able to discern what earrings were I was asking for pierced ears. At first my parents said I had to be sixteen (aaaagh!) then it was thirteen (still an eternity away) then I got The Note.

There's a picture that captures the moment. I had had a swimming party, and was still in my pink bathing suit that was one-shouldered with ruffles around the top. My hair was in a pony-tail (this was a few months before my mother chopped all of my hair off, making me look Really and Truly like a boy - I still won't let it rest), and I'm wearing purple leg-warmers. I'm pretty sure those were also a present - part of the "Get in Shape, Girl" set. (anyone? anyone?) My fingernails were painted pink, and I've got the biggest grin possible stretched across the skinniest face possible. That, my friends, was a happy day.

But seriously, what are pierced ears compared to finding out you're having another baby girl? Not all that important. Except that I know that I will Not make Ella and her little sister wait until they are sixteen to take the piercing plunge. And I will Not chop all of their hair off (but I wish I at least had the option with Ella. still wispy).

So, yes, today has been a good day. I think I'm going to like being twenty-seven.