The past two years, my birthday has lined up with Memorial Day weekend. This year it fell on the same day. Even when it doesn’t, I can usually take advantage of the long weekend to celebrate.
Last year I went on a trip to Virginia to visit my college roommates, and on the day of my 23rd birthday found myself weak in the legs on a 13-mile uphill hike in Shenandoah National Forest. Fortunately, anything is bearable when you have the quality level of friends that I do. The four of us enjoyed beautiful waterfalls and amazing mountain views, but some of the wonder faded around the eighth mile when we realized our trail had not looped back as expected. Alissa and Lauren powered ahead and Sarah and I followed behind limply until we finally made it back to the car. It was a pretty blatant reminder that our bodies were not in peak shape, but at the same time we were impressed with ourselves for having gone as far as we did without training for it. The day concluded with Sarah’s (rightful) insistence a pit stop for ice cream, a 10pm dinner of Alissa’s delicious coconut curry, and Lauren’s PT expertise on stretching out our aching muscles, so all was well.
This year, I couldn’t really make plans for my birthday. Surprisingly, I was okay with that. I knew that people cared for me and would make me feel special, and I was not let down. I received countless phone calls, messages, and birthday posts that celebrated me. I woke up to my roommate, Juliet, having decorated the apartment, complete with “24” memes for my “Jack Bauer” year. I had saved the cards and packages that had been coming in the mail to open on my actual birthday, so I enjoyed opening thoughtful gifts and touching messages.
South Carolina has been slowly re-opening over the course of May, so my friends and I felt it was safe to engage in a socially distant birthday party that afternoon. We planned to bring our own food and have an outdoor picnic. Juliet and I got Chipotle delivered, and I held the chocolate birthday cake that she had baked me on my lap in the car on our way to meet our friends. We spread out our picnic blankets six feet apart from one another, and placed a bottle of hand sanitizer and anything else that we needed in the middle. We chatted and ate, and they sang me “Happy Birthday” before we enjoyed the chocolate cake together. It was a nice little gathering, and all the more special that it was the first time seeing each other since before everything shut down.
At some times, this quarantine period has been really tough, and weighs on me. At others, I am able to find the unique ways that it has presented me with new opportunities. My job and lifestyle has changed dramatically, but there are silver linings I can find in the midst of that. Digital connection may not be an ultimate substitute for personal interaction, but I have been enjoying the impromptu Facetime happy hours with old friends, scheduled Zoom yoga with friends, and updates via social media. I started a podcast with my best friend, Anelia, and learned how much I enjoy entertaining and creating with her. There is a lot to explore out in the world, and that’s something I always look forward to, but I think my 24th year might be more about self-exploration. And these circumstances provide the unique outlet to do so.
Written by Hannah 