June 16

First day of classes!

I was in first year high school the first (I think) and last time this happened… until today. It’s weird having to introduce yourself to class and then mentioning your birthday since it’s required, and telling them that uhm, it’s today.

So, uhm,my birthday is actually today. My eighteenth birthday!

I’m finally, finally legal. Not that it makes much difference; I don’t think I’m going to do anything that I haven’t done before. I mean, the legal drinking age here is what, 18? And we’ve been drinking since last year, when I was only 17. Doesn’t really matter. The only think good about this is that I’ll be able to vote in the presidential election next year. Not that my vote can really change anything on its own, but it’ll be good to be able to make history. And I’ve always wanted to turn eighteen just in time for the elections.

I can also get a driver’s license. Daddy told me I can enrol in a driving school here. I probably would enrol, and in the driving school where my mom enrolled ages ago, but not anytime soon. I don’t think I’d have a car just yet. Sure, I want a car, but I don’t really want it that much. No place to park here (around our place) and I don’t want to drive here (in the Philippines), where the traffic and the streets are awful.

Oh, and I can take care of business myself; no need for parental consent. It’s actually hard to get a signed  consent from my parent because they’re 6,000 miles away. Scratch that, it’s about **** miles away, for now. I am not an emancipated youth, though. I still need the monetary allowance!

Celebration you ask? Nah. I won’t be having a party. I had my cotillion (and treasures and candles) when I celebrated my seventh birthday. It was organized by my mom. I think I don’t want to have any other memory of a cotillion other than that. And also, if ever I wanted to celebrate this, I’d have to organize it myself. I don’t want to bother my aunts. I think it’d be okay with them though (after all, all expenses will be paid by my dad) but still!  And there’s the fact that I was back in California last summer, so I really don’t think it would have been possible.

So what did I do? I pocketed the money (which is of course less than what a full-blown debut would cost) and am celebrating my birthday this whole month of June! Shopping, mall-hopping, having adventures by going to places I’ve never been to (and have only checked the internet for directions on how to get there), and pampering myself. And doing all these without caring about the budget! Haha. Just this once! After this month, I’d have to face reality and start saving up, though.

But for now, Happy birthday to me.

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Dear God, thank you for giving me another birthday. Thank you for all the blessings, and for all the people who love and care for me. Please let all of them know that I am thankful I have them. Please bless them and protect them. Thank you so so much. I feel so blessed and grateful.

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Special thanks to my hon, who has been a source of hope and happiness. I love you…