Duriba is 20.
Yes, the same Duriba that still laughs at farts and was scared of cats until two weeks ago. The same exact one who still wear pigtails and has never heard of a tax return. Yes, she’s me, and yes she is 20. And YES, SHE HAD A BIRTHWEEK. AGAIN!
Given the wild turn of events over the weeks leading up to my birthday, I honestly didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t want to celebrate my birthday, much less have a birthweek.
MONDAY
Monday was a good day. I went to see my pre-law advisor to go over my options for the future, and then my best friend and I went to the mall and had tacos. Later, my org had a baking party and we made cookies and brownies and eat chocolate covered strawberries while painting and wow very wholesome much nice. It was also a very dramatic night in terms of a game called assassins we were playing on campus, but definitely a memorable one.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday I gave a pretty FOINE class presentation and got ice cream with some friends. I got roasted a lot, but they’re cool people so I forgave them for it.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday I got lunch with one of my best friends and had important conversations about life and where we all are going to go and end up. I had an improv show that night, and after it I got ice cream with some other friends (you’ll see that this is a recurring theme in my life).
THURSDAY (MY REAL BIRTHDAY)
I’m one of those overly dramatic people that likes to feel exact moments as they happen. So minutes before the clock struck midnight, I prostrated (a step of prayer) and had a conversation with God. I said, “thanks god for these great eyebrows and thanks god for the people and memories in my life.” and I wept.
Now imagine how awkward it was when my sister and brother bust into my room with a microwave lava cake and balloons, singing happy birthday at the top of their lungs.
After the encounter, we laughed out loud and I hugged them. I then kicked them out and laid in bed for hours laughing at old snapchats and crying at all the memories and losses of all the years now behind me. I even sat up a few times and declared “I’m twenty years old” before realizing how stupid I sounded. Of course all the people who loved me called or texted to wish me, and I spent the rest of the night wondering what I did to deserve them until I fell asleep.
I spent Thursday with someone I love. We had pancakes at brunch, spent the afternoon roaming a bookstore, and then fell asleep in a coffee shop. Afterwards, I headed to campus for an org meeting and afterwards, invited a bunch of my friends to an ice cream parlor where we played Duriba Khan trivia.
Afterwards, some of us roamed the streets downtown and took a bicycle ride down congress street. We stopped at a parking garage, got to the rooftop and had good conversations.
FRIDAY
On friday, I took my mom’s van to the Honda dealership!! LITTYYYY!!!
Oh but then afterwards, one of the orgs I’m a part of hosted our annual charity banquet so I did my due work there. I also spent the night exploring the city with friends and having a sleepover. This was probably one of the most memorable nights of my college career because of the wacky turn of events but hey, we’re all alive!
SATURDAY
On Saturday, my closest friends threw me a surprise party and wow i went to masala wok with my family and then went back to campus for my friend’s surprise party and it was a great night 10/10 recommend.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, I slept in until 2 PM.
AHH. WOW. This feels like so long ago, but I need to relax i’ve only been twenty for like, a week. Anyway, my entire birthweek made me realize the importance of only making time and space in your life for the people who want to be there, as well as the people who genuinely care about you.