bell - a verbalization of consciousness

three rows of three candles

I officially have $2.19 in my bank account and I’m over on my daytime minutes, but I’ve still got my health, as they say. With health, comes age, and with this weekend came that trusty reminder that time keeps on tickin’, and that this ‘Life’ thing is still workin’ out…. that’s right, I turned 24: uh! Not too shabby. September 17th was the big day, and look how, with vigor and ambition, I’ve left my golden birthday in the dust! [insert: the crowd goes nuts!! “woo-hoo!” clap, clap].

So, I was out on the ultimate field that saturday morning by 9am, cleats on, workin’ up a sweat for a good stretch; it was Mixed Club Sectionals in Corvallis, OR. Outkast was bumpin’ from the trunk while we warmed up for our first game, and I felt good. I carried a little secret with me: it was my birthday — but I didn’t care to make a deal out of it. I mean, what’s “24” all about anywayz?

I received some midnight phone calls from the night before and took my annual Birthday Shot with my b-day brother, Kevin Wright. A few text messages came my way, and a couple missed phone calls carried good cheer to my ears, and already at mid-morning, I couldn’t help but smile inside and out. There’s something to be said for being on the the thoughts of those who live and love to make our lives feel whole. Time and time again, I found myself huddled up with my Whor$hack teammates, out on the field, feelin’ the groove of life between our arms. Parents, opponents, some happenstance friends & acquaintances all seemed to poke their heads around our games, and though most were unaware, they all helped make my Birthday feel rich and rewarding. Listen, being in one of your favorite places with positive people and vibrations all around you is about as sensuous and marvelling as life can get - let alone on your birthday.

I felt great, and I didn’t need to make it any more obvious than that… but things happen, and the word slips out. I blame Meghan DiNero. After the games (3-0), we went to Matt Melius’ parents’ house to have dinner, watch the UO football game, and soak in the hot-tub with a few ice cold coronas in our hands. One word: heavenly.

Adrian and I got back to the pad just in time to see the Ducks go on a 20 point scoring streak to take half 20-17. Hummus, turkey sandwiches, salsa & chips and ice-bags were all at our disposal, and the team started showing-up shortly thereafter. I was all showered up, any feeling so fresh and so clean. The food was going down easy, and I was posted up in the comfort of a living room couch. [Can I mention again how great ‘homes’ are? They have everything!] So, DeNiro comes in and we get to talkin’, shootin’ the shit, keepin’ it chill, and somehow I think we got to talking about age. There was one of those moments where we’re all talking about how old we are, and I felt the invitation to respond. “Well, I’m 24 years old,” I said. “And, actually, today is my birthday…” And, really, the look on her face was priceless! ha! I had to feel good, I had to feel proud that it was my birthday… she was right. And accordingly, it was essentially her duty to let everyone know. (…chuckle…)

So, one by one, peeps came in to check out the status of the Ducks game, and Meghan would be all like, “yeah, ducks are up 20-17,… oh, and did you know it’s Belltron’s Birthday?” I dunno if she really said ‘belltron’, but I really like re-telling the story like that. I should start with this: People go nuts for birthdays in Portland. By the end of dinner time, and we’re talking ‘endless-lasanga-and-goodness’ dinner time, there was a crowd of good friends singing me a birthday song while I sang the ol’ “I’m 24 years, I’m 24 years old” bit, and cut a homemade cake — with 3 rows of 3 candles… add it up how you will, but my jersey represents the duuurty Thirty-Three for a reason, and the cake candles were in mighty good fashion.

To top it off, everyone couldn’t help but tell me how young I was, and how they would never have suspected that I was only 24… I remember hearing that twenty-eight was much more reasonable of a schematic fit for me. “Sweet,” I thought — I didn’t really see that coming. For the record, our team’s average age is probably around 29, with Melius at 21, I’m probably third youngest, and a few players are said to be pushing 40… but hey, we all play like we’re 18 (yeah, i’m talking to you Shazam, beware! mu-hahahaha!)…

So, the ducks won a big game against Fresno State, our Whor$hack team went on to win all of our games on Sunday to officially earn the title of Oregon State Champions, and I went to bed that night with a full birthday belly, and piece of mind. Life is swell at twenty-four years old. That’s all I know. … well, that, and giving birth is a very, very strange concept to grasp.

Thanks mom for pushing through on that…

Posted by bell at September 20, 2005 12:48 PM | TrackBack