Last day of 27

Tomorrow I turn 28.  I spent some seconds today trying to figure out how I feel -- am I excited, like I was at 10?  am I feeling mature and independent, like at 21? scared because I have no idea how to handle a life and what comes next, like 25?  a little freaked out, like 27, when I realized that I was in my late twenties? -- and decided it's the first birthday in a long time that I have no strong feelings about.  I am so content in life and another year doesn't seem to change things.  There are moments when I wonder what will come of my career that-never-quite-was-and-may-never-be.  But then I remember that life is (likely) long and there is (likely) time for all that later, and if there isn't, I'm spending right now doing exactly what I want to be doing*: sitting on the floor of my kitchen while the black beans and rice cook, listening to Luke play with Mark and Scott watch his daily allotment of Sesame Street, and delaying planning my 10 year high school reunion for just a few more minutes to bring you some photos of just why I love life.

Baby smiles in front of the big red barn at the Wagner property

Peacocks at the Quadrangle in Fort Sam Houston, a park my mom used to take us to when we were kids

Daddy and son at the Quadrangle

Photo by Dad on Thanksgiving weekend that captures my life right now well: house a little messy, personal appearance not quite pulled together, but lots of smiles.  As the Velveteen Rabbit says, "When you're real, shabbiness does not matter."

Another photo by Dad of relatives who are about to move out here!  On our To-Do list so far: Yosemite summer camping, redwood and Mt Tam hike, wine country weekend, veggie shopping near Monterey ... oh, and get Karen and Daniel a couple more degrees

* see seconds 0:47 - 1:12