Challenge: descriptive piece about a favorite birthday memory.
Generally, I don’t see my birthday as something special, but there is one particular day that I still look back on even if the things I did were simple.
My 17th birthday in 2021 was the only day in 17 months of social isolation I got to see friends in person. Though I loved my sedentary lifestyle, not being able to see friends for over a year was hard on me. But my 17th birthday was the first day in a long time that happiness truly and quietly bloomed within me. I logged on, took on the role of a different character, and immersed myself in a world unlike the one I was in—both figuratively and literally.
The second person I had invited came to my house at 1 PM, and we played Pinball FX3, Trivial Pursuit Live!, and Overcooked 2 on my PS4. She and my mom also got to know each other when we were eating in the dining room. At 3 PM, the first person I had invited arrived. The girl and I continued playing our game for about five minutes before she had to leave.
Sometime after I led her out the door, my other friend played my guitar. I was captivated by the music and drowned in its chords. The sounds were deep, pure, and soothingly warming. I had always heard him playing guitar through videos and even through two phone calls. But seeing him play in front of me for the first time, his hands plucking at the strings, the notes that he played—it was enchanting.
After he was done, we played Overcooked 2 and Goat Simulator. We also ate my birthday cake after my parents and brother sang “Happy Birthday” to me. Eventually, my friend left my house when it was almost 6 PM.
To many, this may have seemed like an ordinary day with friends, but to me, it has value. At the time, I hadn’t seen friends in person for over a year, so hanging out with friends meant I was doing things that I couldn’t in my normal life. Like video games, that day invited me to step into a new and transcendent space. It inspired different kinds of interactions and play. It allowed me to forget my worries.
I think it is necessary to mention that I was happy even when I didn’t receive any material gifts, which show the worth of experiences. Though new gadgets could be exciting for a short amount of time, the pleasure eventually wears off. What doesn’t wear off is the delight of memories and experiences; they can last a lifetime. While it is true that my friends and I used objects, the act of hanging out with friends was what made me happy. It’s not always the objects that matter. It’s the way we go through new experiences.
I will always remember my 17th birthday. What I did was a sunbeam that filled me with joy on a rainy day.
Word Count: 497
Having a birthday in quarantine was pretty hard because of the virus. 17 is a pretty big number as it is one more to 18 which would mean that you would be an adult. Luckily for me, I didn’t turn 17 during quarantine. I actually get to spend it with friends and family as the world is a little bit more open. Plus it’s literally in a week on a Friday. With getting a non-material present, it doesn’t really last forever. But at least it was a good time which would technically make it a present. Especially when you had taken photos and printed them out.
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