Birthday Letter

I finally figured out why going to college is so great: you come out with friends for life who are the same age as you, not matter how old that is. There they are.

"It's great you could join us. Welcome to 37," came the phone call at 3 a.m. (from Paris). Then an e-mail at 11. A cellphone message at 3 from New York (eastern time). Brice Canyon came at 6 a.m. today since the caller was without access to phones the day before.

This is the only good thing about aging. That and presents. And shoe shopping. And being alive. These days, I try not to indulge in anything buy joy at whatever the next year, the next day, the next moment brings. My sister told me never to put anything off, so I try to live these words for both of us.

I got a card that gave multiple-choice options for what excuse my birthday gives me: time to start a revolution was checked off. Watch out. Thirty-seven, here I come.