I Got Toilet Paper For My 19th Birthday

I turn nineteen today, after what’s seemed like the quickest year of my life. The days have flown past. This time last year I was off the grid in British Columbia, working on a driftwood dragon raft and swimming in an isolated lake. I can’t believe it’s been a full year already.

We celebrated my birthday yesterday, since Mom left before dawn this morning for the States. She’s been busy lately (an understatement), growing more successful as an editor and general badass. It’s what she’s been working towards for years, and I’m proud of her. But the downside is that she’s missing a couple of birthdays, her own included. We’re making the most of it by celebrating late and early. Yesterday was awesome. Ezra brought me breakfast in bed. This is especially notable, because I can’t remember anyone having ever done that for me. Pancakes and maple syrup, served with a big grin and a sticky hug. I like being a big sister.

I spent the day packing (I move out on Saturday), telling the boys about my recent adventures in the Amazon, and reading Green Hornet comics with Ez. A pile of pink packages appeared on the table around midday. For the past three years, this has always surprised me. I rarely ask for anything in particular, and the family are all extremely sneaky about their shopping. I don’t really expect presents, and it’s always a bit of a pleasant surprise when they pop up seemingly out of nowhere on my birthday. This year I received some really thoughtful gifts. A sixteen roll pack of toilet paper. A bucket of cleaning supplies (for the first time in my life I’m excited to get Lysol and sponges). Two ice cube trays, and a bike helmet.

It’s not every year you get a sixteen roll pack of toilet paper for your birthday. I’m hoping it’s no commentary on my character. And it’s almost pathetic how excited I am about the cleaning supplies. Those things are expensive, man! Best gift ever! I can have a clean bathroom!

I also now have a fish tank. It was the one thing I really wanted this year, and didn’t really expect to get. Consider. For the first time since I was ten, I will have a place for a pet. I realized this a few months ago and got extremely excited. Until I realized that I’ll be a university student, working a part time job(s), as well as doing all the work I normally do online. I won’t have time to have a pet. It’d be cruel to get a pet and let it languish in my apartment all day. But… I desperately want a pet. So I started looking through the options and came down to hermit crabs or fish. I feel like a ten year old kid, but fish it is. I’m excited.

I rounded off the day by going to the weekly sailing race at the Wolfe Island Boat Club. Gabe and his best sailing buddy, Josh, graciously allowed me to join their team for the day. We rocked. There were two races, we won both. A fantastic way to end my nineteenth birthday. For the record, this is the first time since Gabe nearly sent us to the bottom of Lake Ontario that I’ve set foot in a sailboat with him. “That’s never going to die, is it,” said he as I reminded him that he’d suffer if there was a repeat, and told him to put on his life jacket. Nope. Never.

All in all, eighteen was a pretty fantastic year for me. Two continents, awesome family and friends, no severe injuries, and many fantastic adventures. I’ve put together a collection of photos in review.

The “Purple Dye Disaster” was a highlight. See what I did there? *snigger*