Category: Uncategorized

My old compadre Kelli stayed last night with me, completing the weekend trifecta of sleepovers! She was passing through town from G-Forks for a conference, and we had a nice (brief) time catching up. Kelli has been my friend since 7th grade, and we’ve had some great times. Together we’ve done plenty of boyfriend coaching (which, in hindsight we’ve realized how silly our high school relationships were). We’ve snuck out together for all the right reasons, and taken blames together for our mistakes. We huffed and puffed and wheezed together after running our races in track and sat benches together in softball and volleyball. We’ve cling wrapped cars and baked cakes and done dances together. We got our licenses together, and drove around the streets of Minot together with loud, vulgar music playing. There is not a stretch of Broadway we’ve not cruised ten times or a moment in her Chevy Celebrity (or my Olds Eighty-Eight) that we didn’t feel young and wild. Kelli has been around a long time!

Heidi stopped over this afternoon after work (we both worked overnight shifts) for a chat and a slice of cake. Sister time is always pleasant, and the sunshine made it more so.

One thing I learned from my aunt Amy is that it is necessary to indulge in flowers. I bought a bunch a few months back and they brought so much life to my tiny apartment. Last night I decided to give flowers another whirl, and brought home a fun bunch of pink and purple blossoms. They light up my kitchen table and make me excited about Valentine’s Day — even if, really, there’s nothing to look forward to this Valentine’s Day (in my opinion)…

(PS: This photo was taken with Instagram on my iPhone! You can follow my uploads here. Friend me, too, if you’re interested!)

I am 23 years young today. It’s been a beautiful day full of reminders from people and places that I love. I am so grateful!

I believe that a birthday, not New Years, is the best time to look back at at a year — after all, it’s when a person’s clock was set in motion. This year has been particularly enriching for me. I had the opportunity to take the cross country road trip of a lifetime, spend a summer in San Francisco, intern at a wonderful photo center, and live every day with keen curiosity. This year I gained confidence, understanding, and a sense of self. I lost things, too, but that’s life. I am learning how life goes.

Twenty-three years ago, at 3:56 a.m., I landed on this thing, “life.” I didn’t have a name for 16 hours. I was almost a Margaret. But here today, all 5-foot-one-inches of me, I’m Jenny!

To everyone that has been a part of my life this last year — and throughout the past 22 — thank you for embracing my wayward, peculiar soul. I am thankful for those by my side!

xxxx
jc

For whatever reason, my heart is yanking me in so many inexplicable directions.
I wish I could find my way…

A few photos from the past few weeks.

TODAY IS MY MOM’S BIRTHDAY. I won’t say how young she is, but she is an ageless wonder and a graceful, groovy woman! How lucky I am to be a part of her life!