17 going on 16, going on 15,...14,...13,........

So...a couple of Saturdays ago marked 18 days till I turn 18. A genius friend of mine suggested that everyday until then, I take the number of days left and think about the good things that came along with being that age...So, that Sunday  was 17. We'll start there.

17..it was a good year. I got my license. I had a decent, but difficult junior year, and an amazing half to my senior year. I think that I have met my most favorite people of my entire life this past year. I have never met such amazing people as I have in my life right now. It's true. I also got a job at the coolest place around..I love my In-N-Out. This year I have also realized the trust that my parents have in me. It could be the fact that I'm number 3..they've done this before..they are more chill about things. But..it could be because i've managed to keep myself out of any major trouble..you know..I've only been arrested twice, suspended once, and that thing with the dog at the state capital? The judge ruled in my favor due to metal instability on my part i think..so my parents have practically forgotten about it already..

Monday  was 16 days... When i was 16...hmm. I remember the dating thing was fun..it still is. But it has grown less awkward. The best thing about being 16...? I really dont remember..I remember how anti-clamactic it was. I expected this huge internal mindset type of change..and an entire universal shift in the space time continuum..nope. Nothin. The boys didnt even change. They were STILL high school boys STILL functioning on a high school boy brain. What is a girl to do? Besides the obvious dating experience thing..16 was my peak of embarrassing moments...They have trickled since..but only slightly. I learned that year..that I am ridiculous. And sometimes..a lot..I am going to do ridiculous things like fall flat on my back coming back from seminary..or trip up the stairs into the jock that sits across the room from me in my next hour class. Yep. 16...I learned to laugh at myself....I'm so glad that I did :)

15...just over 2 weeks until i reach adulthood. Whoa..I remember that last thought hit me just a little bit...it stungs a little..but in a sort of way that is a bit exhilarating and a tad bit satisfying....2 years ago...hmmm...freshman year. Haha..15 is the lamest age turn i think. Nothing happens. No YW class change. No new major privileges such as dating or driving. You are just kinda there, and you still have a whole other year to go until anythign significant happens. 

I was a strange freshman. For sure. I didnt really have much of a life, i wont lie. Hmmm...I got straight As..and I met my best friend Jayne..she is legit :) The best thing about 15...Oooo..I know. When you are a freshman, you do stupid things. It is just the way it is. And even when you don't, nothing that you do is ever really considered cool. So, the upside to this situation, as Jayne and I discovered, is that anytime you get crap for anything, you have the excuse , "Hey man, I'm just a freshman." We used it a bunch that track season. :)

2 weeks. Yep. 14 days. What an even number...14 is good i guess..you are still young. Responsibility starts to grow a little bit. You start to feel a little bit more important as you enter high school and start getting busier. Some get excited about the stake dances..i missed that boat. I didn't go until I was halfway to 16. It's true. Let's see...14. I think that the best thing about being 14 is that you are still in the midst of mainly care free days. You still have another year, in not 2, of time in which little responsibility really nails you. It is just another on e of those years that you can just focus on being a kid....

13. For some strange reason I looked forward to being 13 in 7th grade..something about the numbers..or something I dont know. I'm weird. Still. I cant eat ice cream with a metal spoon either..(if the fact that turning 14 and being in the 8th grade truly made me sad because I would no longer be 13 in the 7th grade didnt prove that enough..) I remember being 13..still thinking that everything i did was funny..or cool. HAHA..wow. Just our of elementary school..i though i was the bee's knees (which i find strange..i'm going to ask the same cliche question that has been asked over and over again...:Do bees have knees? And why are they so cool? I have knees too! (i know that was 2 questions..but go with me here..)) The point is..that what I miss about being 13 is that I truly did not care what anybody else thought..well, i don't think i NOTICED what everyone else thought. This changed eventually..before i turned 14..but it was nonetheless, awesome as i look back on it all...

Twelve..hmmm..I remember feeling so much of a part of somethign when i entered into Young Womens. Twelve also marked the most increase in my rising action of babysitting years..the cash flow was incredible..:)

Eleven..hmmm...not a lot different from 10. it is a filler year..kinda like 15..But the best thing about being 11...ummm..if you wish on 11:11, does it count for double...?? :)

10..I remember turning 10, I was seriosuly stoked to be in the double digits. I don't know why...but who knows why I was so strange..nobody can explain the strange things I did..and still do..

9. I loved being 9..I had the best 4th grade teacher. My all time favorite of my educational career for sure. Mrs. Mullenaux. O boy..I would return to that year any day..:)

Eight..this is the big one. Aunts and uncles send you things on this birthday more than any other..:)  You get baptized and you are so eager to live the gospel so righteously. It is the best feeling. You are so pure and you have your whole life of choices to look forward to. Even though they come with consequences, those are part of the trials. And overcoming those gives you something to be happy about :)

7..I guess that the carefree childhood ascpect of being 7 (and the the years younger) is probably the best part. Trading pokemon cards, racing the boys down the street, visiting with my neighbor friend, Zach, when we weren't actually allowed to play..I had to worries. Nothing but where I would be enjoying my play that day and who I would be enjoying it with...

I think that 6 year olds have the cutest smiles. Generally toothless..and so genuine! Losing teeth was always an experience..and trading them in for a little cash? Well, who wouldnt want some of that..?

5..kindergarden..DUH! school consists of learning to color in the lines and making cuts with plastic scissors..ohh the days..

4..Preschool. I do remember at one point that I didn't want to go to school. (Early onset senioritis) I faught with my mom trying to stay home and finish my care bears episode..

Does anyone honestly remember being 3? I don't really. I know that I had curly hair..but i dont remember what i like to do or what was so amazing about being 3. Hmm..You are just old enough and stable enough to rund out of the grasps of parental control. Though the parents may not appriciate it, it sure is good to be so quick. (I think this skill has to be relearned at an age a few years down the road..like..i don't know 17/18 ish..gotta slip away sometimes..:) 

2. You are starting to gian you "person" attributes. You talk and you're walking by now..and everythign you do is just sooo adorable to everyone around. It is non stop attention all the time. 

1. Again with the attentuion. You are the baby. Up to this point and surely a little beyond it, you are passed around from person to person. You get all the care you need, and sometimes even more than you can stand.

So..tomorrow I turn 18. It is legit. I can't believe it. I'm not sure how i feel about it actually. I mean, sure, I'm excitied..it IS the one day of the year that really DOES revolve around me..but an adult? Really? I think I'm ready though. I'm ready to start the transition. Graduation though? That is a different hurdle...I'll jump that one when it gets here...