A Beautiful Birthday

I woke up this morning to 125 birthday messages. Facebook wall posts, emails, e-cards. 125 of them by 9:30am.

This uber-awesome morning surprise set the tone for the day, and the rest of my birthday readily complied.

I had a wonderful day at Disneyland with my mom, Will, and my high school best bud Erin. Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, gluten-free pizza at the Pizza Port, that Buzz Lightyear shooting game ride, the Tea Cups (I'm still a little dizzy), Peter Pan, Snow White, Space Mountain, and Nemo's Submarine. 

We took a break in the evening to watch the Duke game at ESPNZone (where my dad joined us), and the Blue Devils delivered a birthday gift to me with a monstrous win. Andre Dawkins made three pointers look like child's play.

I indulged in a chocolate cookie ice cream sundae, too.

Meanwhile, the well wishes continued to flood in all day long. It was hard not to get choked up as I read through all the messages, but I didn't want to be that crybaby kid celebrating her birthday at Disneyland, so I kept it together. 

There was one particularly beautiful moment today. It happened on Space Mountain (how many stories start off like that?!). We were about mid-ride and going pretty fast. Will and I were both howling with delight with arms outstretched above our heads. And for a second, as the air rushed over my face, I closed my eyes and felt enormous gratitude for that moment of life. As I soaked up that moment, all the joy and excitement (and the royal "up yours" I was giving cancer by riding on a roller coaster), I knew in my heart, more than ever, that I was going to be just fine.

A happy birthday indeed.