Sweet or Bitter Sixteen?

I had already thought about writing a post like this because I'm reading a short story collection about sixteenth birthdays. I thought it would be fun to share my sixteenth birthday story before I review the book.

And then The mini-challenge for Dewey's Books is announced and it fits what I wanted to do perfectly!

So here we go, the saga of my sixteenth birthday, almost two years ago. I feel so old.

Every year for birthdays we have family over to have cake and all that. We rarely have parties with friends. I had a party when I turned 6 and another when I turned 14. My fourteenth was a disaster. Long story short, two people came.

I hoped my sixteenth would be better.

My parents agreed to let me have a party where we dock our boat. We would have a bonfire and my dad would drive my friends around on our Sea Doo (waverunner, jet ski...whatever you call it). I invited thirty people. I figured I'd get a good turn out despite all the other birthday parties and graduation parties that week.

My aunt and uncle decided to drive four hours to come to my party. That was a good sign. If they were coming, everyone would!

Five of my friends came. Six RSVPed. Four of them I had met only two months earlier. We obviously made too much nacho cheese.

It was a disappointment at the time. Here I was with four girls that were asking me which guy to prank call (I didn't know any of them) and I didn't have much in common with (yet), as well as a girl from school with blue hair.

The four girls were from my new youth group that I had come to six months before. I met them in a supermarket in Hersey Pennsylvania and the friendship was solidified when I started throwing circus peanuts (don't ask).

It made me realize who my real friends are. Those four girls are now the best friends I have right now. Even though I'm 3-4 years older than them! Even though I didn't get a car or an amazing present for my sweet sixteen, I got something better. I just didn't know it at the time. I got best friends for my birthday.