Adorable Val and Joe photo stolen from Facebook. 
My brother-in-law’s girlfriend turned 24 this weekend.
She is a-stinking-dorable. Not only is she so tiny, I could fit her in my handbag, she is as sweet as pie. Seriously, she’s got it all going for her.
And she’s just 24. The world is hers. And I feel lucky to know her.
On a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon, Mr. Quirky, Gertie and I took a little stroll which ended at a local bar with a patio where Val and friends were celebrating her birthday.
We didn’t stay for long. Just enough to have a glass of wine and share in some birthday wishes.
But it got me thinking about being 24. The things you could do without getting tired. The food you could eat without getting fat. The outfits you could wear without looking foolish. The jobs you’ve yet to have. The friendships you’ve yet to have. The experiences yet to shape you.
It is just such an awesome time. There will never be another 24.
Then I thought about being 32. The things that make me tired. The things I can’t eat without getting fat. The outfits I should have given gave away to charity. The jobs I’ve had and friends who have come with those jobs. The experiences that have shaped me.
And I realized that this. This is an awesome time.
A time in my life where I know where I’ve come from. Have direction toward the future. The support of a great husband and family. The life experiences of living in various places and even divorce. Fantastic friends. Passion for cooking and creating and entertaining. This blog. Connections that I’ve made beyond my imagination.
There will be another 32.
Val, enjoy the journey! And be sure to rock 24 like it’s never been rocked before.
10 Comments
I think every year is a good year… you just have to get older to appreciate it!
So glad you passed by me, on the way…
and don’t worry, you’ll soon be to the “can’t eat it because it will make me fat and just don’t care so you eat it anyway” stage/age.
loveyou
great thoughts Stephanie.
Time goes by so very quickly.
Here I am, rockin’ 50 !
And its as fun as 24……..
just in a different way.
So glad I passed by you too! I was about that age, wasn’t I?
Holy Cow, Jay. You rock 50 in a way that I only hope I can!
So true! 24 was fantastically fun, but I believe I recently said to a friend, “I would NOT have wanted to marry me at 25.” Great to enjoy each stage!
I think I’m a lot better at 32 than I was at 24, in many ways. In fact, all 24 had over 32 was that I was thinner, but I didn’t cook nearly as much or as well back then, so there you go.
I often think about the things that I was able to do in my early 20′s, the differences between now and then. Yes, those years were fantastic, but so is this one, and the next probably. I wouldn’t change it, but I wouldn’t go back, I like where I am.
I loved your look back, Stephanie. If it wasn’t for that feeling of daring and fearlessness I had in my twenties – and the decisions I made as a result – I wouldn’t be where I am now or as grateful as I am now. Sure, foolish choices were made and mistakes happened, but I’ll never regret any of it. It’s all made me who I am today. The best thing, though, was a certain Spring happy hour at the Blue Moose in ’05, and some serious life-changing wheels started turning (love you Steph!).
Oh my gosh, was that 2005? Yikes. We are old.
Love you, Molly! So glad the journey included your friendship.