So I turned 19 a couple of days ago. Huzzah for Israel, right?
Wrong.
What makes a birthday isn't the day itself, it is the changes that come with it. For example, the reason that turning 13 was completely bomb is that I was finally able to watch PG-13 movies and play T-rated video games (Thank you mom and dad). 16 was also big, mostly because I was able to take some ladies out at long last. Driving was a side-note because I hadn't completed my 6 months of learners permit-ness yet.
By the way, who came up with that idea? It seems like if learners permits work on the road we should apply them to every part of life. For some reason, I just can't take the though of James Bond working on his learners permit to kill seriously. Emily J, you don't have to point out the logical fallacies with that argument, I'm well aware that it doesn't hold up to logic.
Anyways, nineteen used to be a big birthday because of the new access to the mission field. With that gone, 19 is more like 18+. The day didn't really feel special, just like a regular day with more...me.
That said, it was an enjoyable day. I finished all my school work by 6:30 and by 10 people had shown up to watch some LOTR with me. It turns out that Gandalf the Gay is on a flamin' rampage in the Shire scenes. Here are a few of the highlights:
Frodo to Gandalf: We Baggins's used to be respectable folk before you came around.
Frodo to Gandalf: You've officially been labeled a disturber of the peace.
Gandalf to Bilbo: Frodo suspects something.
The moment where Gandalf is smoking weed and decides to blow a ship. That one should have some sort of disclaimer warning children.
Gandalf to Frodo: Keep it secret.
Gandalf to Frodo: Is it secret?
Bilbo to Gandalf: Will you keep an eye on Frodo?
Gandalf: Two eyes, if I can spare them.
(This entire sequence was absolute gold)
Sam: Oh please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't turn me into anything...unnatural.
Gandalf: No?...I have a better use for you. (End of scene)
Needless to say, when you watch with me, Tyler, and Spencer, you either love it or hate us. We've gotten our fair share of both. To this day Ashlyn Parkinson won't ever watch them with me again. Carter and Nate, however, seem to be on the love bandwagon...which was probably not the best phrase to use after discussing a desire to watch a homosexual wizard.
As for presents, I asked my parents not to get me anything, but in typical fashion they disregarded my request and got me a sweet digital camera, some clothes, and a pack of bacon.
Also, to allay any doubts, I decided to stick with school until the end of the year.
I want to go on a mission right now, but since that isn't an option, I would rather do something productive for the next few months than sit around for three so I can leave one month early.
I think the most appealing thing about the mission for me is the direction it will give my life. Right now, I feel like I'm kinda floating along in an ocean. I don't know where I want to go, so I swim out a ways and then double back to see what I missed. A mission is more like a river. Each day is filled with purpose and direction. It might be a bit harder to stay afloat, and there are bound to be some rapids, but at the end of the journey I've gone somewhere, seen something new, accomplished something.
But that's for the future. For now, I'll try to figure out what major-less classes I'm taking now.
Sadly, I'm finding less and less new art entering my life. How I Met Your Mother continues to impress, as do most of the things I already like, but there is less discovery.
One thing I have rediscovered though, as I do every few months, is Coldplay.
Coldplay is probably the greatest band of all time. No matter what sort of a mood you are in, there is always something that speaks to you, and it always sounds dang good. In particular, the song Talk has been speaking to me lately. I can't really tell you why, just listen to it and try to see for yourself.
Although I will say this. The responsibility associated with being an older brother has finally set in. When there is something I don't feel like doing, or a challenge I don't feel like I can surpass, I keep fighting for my brothers. I know that the way I live my life sets the standard for the way they approach theirs, so I have to be the example.
Earlier I talked about the Charge of the Light Brigade. Let me just say that when I am faced with the Valley of Death, I'll ride into it for them.
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