2005-06-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

I recently went on a mission trip to Kampala, Uganda, located in east-central Africa. Here's the link to the blog for our trip:

http://lst-kampala.blogspot.com

22 and Not Dead Yet

2004-06-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Wow. 22. Two and two-tenths decades. Since I live in North America, that’s roughly 11/45 of my life that is now over, if I take care of myself.

As I enter into this new phase of life, I feel a sense of purpose. I am a shade under 6’4 and 9/16” (not that I’m in denial like some 6’3” people), but I hope to gain another inch to pass my brother James, since the inch he has on me is the only reason I’ve never beaten him in basketball. However, I’m not really developing mentally, since, let’s face it, I know everything.

So, I guess I’m officially in my “prime” (though my brothers and other friends might be quick to point out that my prime was over after the 6th grade when I won the spelling bee.)

But as today is my 22nd birthday, I am driven to reflect on the concept of celebrating these days. I am normally very tense about my birthday because I fear no one will make a big production of it. Receiving gifts is by far the best part about my birthday. You see presents are a judgment about how much people love me. They are a testament to how well people are willing to spoil me. That’s why I constantly want people to keep proving their love. I’m pretty easy to understand, so I figure people should love to prove their love to me all the time.

My parents don’t make as big a deal of my birthday as they should. I try to force the issue, but it gets somewhat over-shadowed in a mass celebration (of my brother’s birthday, mine and Father’s Day, and this year we’re unfortunately rolling in my 5-year-old nephew and my sister-in-law too.) I try to spread my part of it out as long as possible to keep people from moving on.

I don’t care if I frustrate them, because they should know what to get me. However, I usually get presents that are way too small and not truly representative of how wonderful I am.

My closest friends usually try to ignore my Birthday, but I am normally a master at making them celebrate it and get me huge gifts.

Christmas is harder to deal with, because the focus isn’t completely on me. People have to spend money on other people, which leaves less for them to spend on me.

I guess the real issue boils down to the fact that I crave attention and recognition. And specifically, the more public, the better.

Maybe it’s because I’ve always been the most humble person in the world. So now my attitude about my birthday is that I should be rewarded for that humility.

I guess the other issue is that I have no idea how much my friends love and respect me until they get me huge gifts. I feel the need to make them express it, because otherwise I’ll never know.

Don’t misunderstand me. I LOVE receiving gifts. It’s the giving I’m not too fond of.

I hate having to go through all the trouble of trying to find some ungrateful little snot some gift that only takes the attention away from me.

Suffice to say I would never trade my “special day” for anything in the world. But maybe people should treat every day of the year like it’s my birthday and constantly be giving me gifts.

But don’t get me wrong, I hate celebrating other people’s birthdays, if only because it takes the attention away from me. Call it a double-standard.

Getting Started

2004-05-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

I don't really have time to really set this thing up yet, but I figured I'd get it out there.

Chuck Steven's Blog

22 and Not Dead Yet

Getting Started