Celebrating Twenty-Six Years of Life

Twenty-six cool /unique things that I have experienced thus far in life that I hope to share with my grandchildren someday:

1. I was born in Chicago, grew up in Montana, and went to college in Oklahoma!
2. My dad cut my hair until I was in high school. I often had sideburns and/or a mullet.
3. I wore saddle shoes in elementary school. The pink ones were my favorite.
4. I was selected to represent my school in a district-wide honor choir from 4th to 6th grade. I was also a member of two different church singing groups: “Sunbeams” and “Ring it Out.” Funny thing is, I don’t sing well at all.
5. Summer before 6th grade I flew to Chicago by myself to visit my grandparents. While staying with one of my grandparents, I got very scared (they live in a bad part of town and I heard yelling and what I thought was gunshots) and so I wrote out my will just in case I didn’t make it home alive. If I remember correctly, I chose Michelle to inherit the boombox.
6. I can play the clarinet. I cannot, however, tune my clarinet without an electronic tuner. I was always first chair which meant I tuned my instrument with the electronic tuner and then the rest of the band tuned their instruments to my C. Thus, I never trained my ear.
7. I won the geography bee in 8th grade. The winning question: What is the longest country? Chile, duh!
8. I played on the school volleyball team 7th – 10th grade. I was the setter.
9. I am the oldest of seven children. My youngest brother was born when I was a freshman in high school.
10. I pole-vaulted in high school. I wasn’t very good, but it was an exhilarating experience!
11. In 11th grade I went on a music trip to Seattle. We saw the Seattle Symphony, went on a dinner cruise, saw Phantom of the Opera, and shopped downtown.
12. I’ve been to Disney World. Typhoon Lagoon was my favorite!
13. I worked at Fuddruckers my senior year of high school and NEVER got sick of the food.
14. I was a queen candidate for the Sweetheart dance and thus had to parade around the gym at an assembly. I didn’t win.
15. I received my diploma 6th out of 411 students.
16. I attended Oklahoma Christian University from 2001-2005 and then 2006-2007…five years total. I earned two bachelor’s degrees.
17. I ate sushi for the first time in Japan. It was disgusting. The cook (chef?) watched me gag and then proceeded to fry me up some chicken. I was embarassed.
18. I’ve jumped out of a plane. Solo. It was A+mazing.
19. I received Presidential honors the first two semesters I was in college. It was my very first time to earn straight A’s. Thank you Montana for preparing me so well for college! Note: the classes did become much more challenging as the years went on, but I still managed to graduated with honors.
20. I hung out in the land down under for four weeks one summer.
21. I fell in love my senior year of college. I learned how to love someone unconditionally as well as how to mend a broken heart.
22. I was a bridesmaid in three different weddings in less than a year’s time.
23. I played indoor soccer at Hat Trick for 2 ½ years.
24. After I graduated from college, I moved 5 times in one year's time. The last move I made was into the Appleway house. I lived there almost two years (forever long!), with FIVE other girls no less (not recommended).
25. I saw the Broadway show “Wicked.”
26. I got a pedicure at V-Nails every month for 8 months straight with my BFF. Say that 5 times fast.
27. I’ve been to Alaska. It is breathtaking.
28. I’ve backpacked a section of the Appalachian Trail. (Ask me what my trail name is.) 8 days without chocolate and 14 days without a shower!
29. I visited the great state of Michigan and had a FANTASTIC tour guide who took me to all the must-see attractions – Herron Household, Sand Dunes, Mackinac Island, Cedar Point, Lavonia DQ, Tigers game.
30. I’ve been whitewater rafting on the Yellowstone River.

Okay, okay. I realize there are more than 26 cool/unique things listed. But, I just couldn’t narrow it down. I guess you could say that I’m beyond my years in the cool/unique factor! Or that's what I like to tell myself anyway. :)