Throughout the month of March, I am participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge. I am happy to co-host this event with the team at Two Writing Teachers. Everyone is welcome!
There are many things I love about the March Challenge of daily slicing, and one of them has to do with the fact that Julia, my second daughter, has her birthday... today!
Since this is my seventh year slicing, I went back and revisited some of the older posts I'd written on March 19, as they've always been in honor of her.
There was one that listed 16 stories I could tell about Julia. (I'm sure I could now tell 21!)
I wrote an admiration post for her on her 17th birthday that remains true, finishing it with:
This girl. This girl is kind and wise and brave. She's resilient and and realistic, reflective and funny. Her six word story goes something like this:
I can. I will. I did.
There was another where I wrote about her promposal. For those of you who don't know yet what that is, be grateful.
And another where I celebrated her from afar since she was in college far from home and fellow slicer and great friend, Lisa Keeler was serving up cake for my girl.
Last year, she was home with us. We got to serve her up a special dinner for her 20th birthday, and then she and her dad spent hours analyzing the NCAA brackets.
And this year... This year, she is in Ireland on her 21st birthday. She will spend the milestone touring the Cliffs of Moher. She will come home on Wednesday to a box of 21 things. (If anyone has a suggestion or two, we are still taking nominations for fun, silly, sensible, symbolic, or meaningful things for our Box of 21!)
How great is it that I can look through my slicing life and stir up all sorts of memories of this girl I love?!
Happy Slicing-- and happy birthday to Julia,
What a wonderful collection of stories you have saved through your written slices! Treasures to be saved forever by your family.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for her to be in Ireland!
What s gift, these annual Slices, for you both. I love the idea of 21 things. I hope you share what ends up in the box!
ReplyDeleteYou could put the slices in her box. Those are truly such a gift. A journal? Maybe you get her slicing next year!?? Thanks for sharing this memories.
ReplyDeleteYour post is such a celebration of your wonderful daughter...and how writing can give us unexpected gifts. You sound so proud of her! Knowing you, you'll come up with a great collection of 21 celebratory items :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to celebrate and reflect on your daughter - a gift to you both. I know my own daughter at 21 would of liked a wine bottle opener and maybe a fancy bottle stopper.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure your memories of her would be a wonderful gift. What fun that you can refer back to them now. Happy birthday, Julia!
ReplyDeleteTexted her this morning. Wish I had known about the box of 21 things... we would have sent something Charlottesville to include. Such a fun way to celebrate and I am so envious of her current location!
ReplyDeleteA birthday gift in the form of writing is the best gift ever given and received, and a gift that never fades away. Beautiful words. Happy Birthday Julia!
ReplyDeleteOh - this is great! Love you how you looked back on the birthday slices over the past 6 years! Now I have an idea! My oldest turns 19 on Thursday, I've only been slicing for a year, but I will look back and then write forward for her! Thanks for sharing and inspiring! Happy Happy Birthday to your girl in Ireland!
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