The Happiest of Birthdays

Detail from a mural at 5 Pointz

I'm so glad that I made it to 28. Not that I'm famous enough to have joined the "27 Club," but 27 was a rough year for me. I certainly ended the first year of my late-twenties on a high note, however, one I hope to keep going well into this next year of my life.

28 will be the first year of my life lived entirely (I hope) in New York. I will officially move into my first apartment three days after my birthday — a fresh start in so many ways. I've never been freaked out or saddened by birthdays, and luckily I've always had wonderful friends and family to make sure I feel special on or around the big day.

I am lucky in so many ways.

I'm even thankful for things that have happened to me that others would definitely not classify as "lucky" — they have made me who I am, and I'm kind of fond of me lately. I've dreamed of living in New York for as long as I can remember, and now I'm actually doing it. It's strange to be living the very life I have wanted for so long. Not everyone gets to do that in their lifetimes and I am thankful for every single day that I have or have had in this one.

I've done a few lists on birthday's past, and it was always fun, so this year I thought it would be nice to list the things I'm particularly thankful for, in no discerning order — 28 of them, but of course:

1. New York City - Because really, if there's a better place to live than I haven't been there yet.
2. My cat, Mozart - We're going to be reunited tomorrow and Monday she'll be riding back with me to the city to become a city girl just like her mom.
3. Cheese - Everything is better with cheese.
4. My family - They're continually outdoing themselves in generosity, selflessness and unconditional love.
5. My friends - They're a crazy group of weirdos and I love them more and more each day.
6. Books - I'm reading more now than I have in a long time and it's wonderful.
7. Parks - Central Park, Riverside Park, Gantry Plaza State Park, I love them all.
8. Yoga - I can't believe I waited so long to try it out, but now I'm obsessed.
9. My legs - They take me so many amazing places.
10. The subway - It takes me all the places my legs can't, or are too lazy to take me.
11. The frozen margarita - You know what I'm talking about.
12. Fall - I might lose my mind with delight in these upcoming months.
13. Jackets - I look so much better in layers.
14. Peanut Butter Panda Puffs - Try them and you'll understand.
15. My new job - I am surrounded by books and the friendliest, most helpful coworkers.
16. Eating lunch in Bryant Park - It's a dream.
17. Fans - The noise, the breeze, I couldn't live without one.
18. Bobby pins - A short-haired girl's best friend in the summer heat.
19. Fruit - Vegetables can suck it, fruit is my lifeline.
20. Summer nights - The air, the smell, the warmth.
21. Adventures! - I hope I never stop having them.
22. Taking photos - Maybe one day I'll get a real camera, but it's still fun to document my adventures.
23. Sunsets - I've never appreciated a sunset like a New York City sunset. They actually make me tear up.
24. My iPhone 5 - What a lame thing to put on this list, but let's be honest: it's a pretty remarkable thing.
25. Gluten-free options - Especially ones that don't taste awful.
26. Lemon or Sweet Corn-flavored anything - Give it all to me.
27. My new apartment - I can't wait to make it a home.
28. My life - Special thanks to my parents for giving it to me in the first place — I hope I'm doing it right!

After tomorrow, I'll have had four different birthday celebrations, in four different cities and two different states, with four very different groups of people. If 28 is half as good as the cheese plate we shared at Murray's Cheese Bar on Thursday, than I'm a very lucky girl, indeed.