Half Birthdays

Today I am 24 and 1/2 years old.

I know this because it has been exactly 6 months to the day since I turned 24 and for as far back as I can remember, I have celebrated my half birthday.

It was a tradition my dad started somewhere around my conscious memory of 3 and 1/2 years old; I think I got a little gold ring with a turquoise stone that I still have. On the celebration of my 4 and 1/2 birthday, I got a gold locket with a ruby chip in it and '4 1/2' engraved on the back--there are also toothmarks to show how much I loved it. I don't actually remember getting the locket, but I do remember my 5 and 1/2 birthday party that my mom threw for me. It was in the park up the street from our house in the Bay Area and I invited all my kindergarten friends. We played games and made crafts and my mom was 8 months pregnant with my brother. However, having two birthday parties in one year was a bit much for my dad, I think, and I don't remember any official half birthday celebrations after that.

Still, I've carried the torch for my own half birthday celebrations. Narcissitic? Maybe a good reason to spoil myself (see: the very nice eyeshadow I bought myself today). But I like to think of it as remembering my 6 year old self, just waiting to be officially 6 and 1/2 years old so I can tell everyone so. My 6 and 1/2 year old self likes being remembered and on the day before the beginning of summer, I think it's not such a bad idea.