24

24 hours in a day. There is a show 24. But that is not why 24 is the title of my blog this week. This week I turned 24. Sept. 29 was my birthday, I got older on that day :) but I am still just as loud and demanding. I thought that it would be a sad and depressing birthday for me because Matt was gone, my sister was in Germany, I am not at home in Minneapolis, my American friends won't be around me. But, actually this birthday was one of the best I have had. Matt called me on that day at 9 am and we talked for over half an hour, then my parents called me (a couple of times) to tell me their wishes. My sister was in Germany at the time, but she send me a few text messages (and brought me a very nice gift, very stylish leather purse), the friend with whom my sister was staying send me a text message and wished me happy birthday. My roommate gave me a gift, another really close friend of my sister's sent me a poem: Happy Birthday! I wish you so much fun as you can place in your soul, walk on water, walk on wall, be very healthy first of all! Have nice time, have nice day, spend your birthday as you may! Many dancing, many drinks, fly all night with your own wings! I love that poem, it's so cheerful. My aunt called me and so did my godparents. It was a great day. To finish it off, my roommate and a very close friend Inna, took me to her friends house, they have 7 kids, and they are super cool. We stopped at the store, got some sweets for tea and marched over there. We did not leave until after 10 pm, it was great. We just showed up, they did not know that we were coming, but were oh so happy to see Inna and meet me (they know my sister). Lida and Semen (mom and dad of the household) were super friendly and wished me happy birthday as well, and one of the kids made me a happy birthday card. Now, what else can one wish for their birthday? I was super happy that day. Yes, my folks were away, my sistere was not by me and Matt was far, but I was the happiest person on that day. I felt happy. Later on, I found out that the Clarks sent me a birthday wish via email, I did not get it till the day after my birthday because my sister had her computer with her in Germany (thus, no access to the Internet). Some people felt sorry for me on this birthday because I was far from Matt, but really, this was the happiest birthday I have had since childhood. I felt loved, what else does a person need to feel joy in their heart? Well, I don't need anything else at all :) Thank you to all of those who made my birthday such a happy day for me, and for remembering my special day this year. Those who forgot, well, thank you for being in my life anyway. I know that life is busy and you can't remember everybody's birthday all the time, but I am thankful that I have so many friends and family both in the US and Russia. I am the luckiest person on the planet. At least that is how I feel in the last 2 days :)