Today is a special day because…

…31 years ago, I was born.

Turning 30 wasn’t a big deal to me…

I don’t feel “old” because I now have the age of 31…

but do you know what makes me feel old?

Next Friday, I’m going to be the mother of an 11-year old…an 11-year old that I’m getting ready to sign up for Middle School…

THAT makes me feel old…

But back to me… because today is my day!

I was talking to my mom last night and she was recounting the night before I was born and my birthday… it was somewhat comical…

She said the night before, they were at my grandma’s house and my dad was watching a John Wayne movie. Mom wasn’t feeling well and my grandmother kept telling my dad that he needed to take her home. He continued to watch the movie and so she went over, turned it off and sent them on their way.

Upon arriving home, nothing happened, and so then he was mad that he missed his movie.

Then all that changed.

Mom said that they got to the hospital at 6am and I said, “6am… wow… it didn’t take me that long to get here,” knowing that I was born around 7:40am.

She responded with, “We would’ve been there sooner, but your father thought we had tons of time and decided to have a ginormous bowl of Rice Krispies and call my mother. To which he dialed the wrong number and said ‘you’re daughter is in labor’ and the woman on the other end of the phone said, ‘my daughter is well past the age to labor but congratulations!’”

They went to the hospital, and got Mom checked in. She said that he then went to move the car from the emergency room entrance and was moving slow. A nurse then came up to him and said, “Mr. Moore, if you’d like to see your child be born, you need to get your scrubs on now.” He thought the nurse had made a mistake because they had just gotten there. But there was no mistake. I was ready to come.

My mom had a natural delivery, because there was mention that she might get a headache with the epidural. She’s my hero. But she did tell me that she was so scared because it was the first time that she realized she couldn’t stop this. She couldn’t go back. It was happening.

And then I was here.

Super Bowl Sunday 1977.

I share my day with the civil engineer/builder of the Golden Gate Bridge, Dave Matthew’s of the Dave Matthew’s Band, Richard Nixon, Crystal Gayle, Mark Martin and Gilligan. Yes, Gilligan.. it explains so much.

And today I feel special.

It’s only 10am and already I’ve been showered with e-cards, phone calls, emails and text messages wishing me a happy birthday.

They sang to me in Bible Study today and tonight at church, we’ll have a little party.

Matthew bounded in my room this morning screaming “Happy Birthday” and then told his sister that she needed not give me any crap today since it was my birthday… this was moments before telling me that I needed to get caught up on the laundry.

For many, they dread getting older… they dread birthdays and wish to treat them like any other day…

And up until this year, I felt the same way. But this year? I’m celebrating my birthday… the day that I was brought into the world and given a purpose — even though I’m still not sure what that purpose is and may never know…

Yes, today is my birthday and I’m going to celebrate!

Until next time…

Heather