being 23

 8/16 (really 8/17)

Some people at MOD thought I was turning 24, or already 24. A couple of them guessed I was older than my age, which is quite rare. I wonder what they see as mature about me. My hope is that my words and manner are wise - but if that's so, it's not anything I take full credit for. I'm quite a weird dork sometimes and other times I can rant about my opinions and beliefs. Dawnte was expressing his desire for wealth, and of course I offered that rich people are not ever satisfied. He basically disagreed, so I decided to explain my points and source. I'd read Ecclesiastes that morning, on the chapter about wealth, so I summarized it to him. Eventually Shabar showed up and we broke off our conversation. 

8/20

While I am officially 23, I feel as though I've been this age for a few months, as if I aged the same time as Sean. There is little significance to the age in general, according to society and the lack of attention drawn towards it, yet I do know a song by 'Free Cake For Every Creature', called 'All You Have To Be When You're 23 is Yourself.' By satisfying coincidence, it came up on my radio playlist as I drove down del amo on my b-day eve. 

I intended to sleep in, but couldn't sleep deeply past 9am, then grandma Kay called anyways. She sang as usual, then we chatted and caught up for about an hour. Due to trying to keep my relationship out of most conversations, and being busy with it as well as work, I'd forgotten to call her earlier and inform her about it all. It must have been at a peak of uncertainty for me when I spoke to her last - just before the 4th of July, so it makes some sense. After our call, I skipped breakfast and did a hiit workout. I took a short rinse, put noticeable effort into my makeup, and slipped on my yellow strappy dress. It felt a little fancier than I'd anticipated, but Sean arrived to pick me up and insisted that I don't need to change. Just in case, I grabbed a flannel shirt to add a casual look, but it was oppressively hot so I didn't end up wearing it. We set out for brunch at a place in Belmont Shore called 'Saint & Second', which I've been curious about due to its popularity. Yet when we sat down with our menus, they were only serving lunch; the server said they only offered brunch on weekends. We decided upon a place about 7 minutes away, 'The Coffee Cup'. With diner-style food and plain tables, it was definitely more casual, which we agreed was actually better for brunch anyways. Both of us ordered pancakes and coffee, and discussed whether Catholics are Christians. It was fresh and cheap and filling; we dusted off practically our whole plates, and got free refills on coffee. Then we chose Seal Beach as our next location, to relax a little while, getting the edges of our clothes wet by walking in the waves. We had to go soon, since we were going to Meet Fresh with my family before his work that afternoon. Sean says the dessert there tastes like air, and my parents aren't accustomed to their taste or texture, so it was only Lydia and I who ordered, while they picked up Sharetea next door. When Sean left, I joined my family in the car to eat and open my presents.

It was still boiling outside, and we were all together for once, so we decided to walk around Target, Sean's location, as a family outing. My dad irritated me greatly. He wouldn't wear his mask properly, kept going off from us to listen to his newest audio book, and very disrespectfully pointed out a homeless, likely mentally troubled, person on the street. This put me in an off mood, yet work diverted my attention for the rest of the night. And, Siena & Manuel surprised me with cupcakes as we were closing, which brightened me up. After work I hung out with Sean some more, though we were both nearly spent, just laying there talking. 

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