My birthday is this Sunday. I’m going to be 23 years old. My first instinct is to crawl into a ball and cry because my youth is gone and I still haven’t done things I always imagined I would have by this age like publish a book, speak at least one foreign language completely flawlessly, or be 100% financially independent. I just need to think of all the things I have accomplished in 23 years—I got myself into law school (four acceptances and one waiting list so far), I found myself a handsome Frenchman who loves me with the same intensity that I love him (and haven’t done anything to screw it up for almost two years now), and I finessed my way out of a job that was crushing my soul and then found an infinitely better one.

I just had to remind myself of these accomplishments, and that crying in a ball is a waste of time, and I came up with the following ways to celebrate starting tonight and going through next weekend. Ader’s company is closed all next week so he can celebrate with me. Isn’t that nice of them? Tonight we’re going to a free stand up show and Tuesday night we’re going to see How to Become Parisian in One Hour (http://www.oliviergiraud.com/). It wasn’t cheap but I’ve been wanting to go since the summer, and about ten Parisians now have told me que je vais le kiffer.

One night next week we’re going to see Intouchable (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXu2MhWYUuE). Ader doesn’t generally like French films, but he’s making an exception. Thursday night we’re going clubbing, because I know a place that’s free for international students on Thursday nights, and I’m hoping my German ID will get me out of paying. It clearly says that I’m an au pair, not a student, but only if you can read German. Even though it’s a little bit cheesy, we’re thinking about going to Dinseyland for a day. It just seems Christmasy. Which is the same reason I want to go stroll around the Christmas markets. Actually my real reason for wanting to go to the Christmas markets is the churros.      

Speaking of delicious things, on Sunday we’re having lunch at Le 14 Juillet (http://www.lafourchette.com/2_restaurant/restaurant_Paris/restaurant_Le_14_Juillet/382/). I thought I would really embrace being in Paris this year, plus I wanted to see what all the hype was about. And since it’s relatively cheap, I think I could convince Ader that we should get take away sushi another night when we stay in and watch Dharma and Greg and take bubble baths.

So that’s how I’m going to kick off my 23^rd year. Actually my 24^th year, since I was alive for a whole year before I turned one, right? In any case, festivities begin in a few hours!