I Don't Need Boxes Wrapped in Strings and Designer Love and Empty Things

As the days of summer stretch out and mold together into what seems to be one very short adventure, I am beginning to find things to spend my time with that are at least of some value. I was offered a temporary 1 day job at a local company, have made good progress on some of my hobbies, and am preparing for the trip to Rome in a little more than a month. Somewhere in the back of my mind is the fact that my birthday is approaching. I always seem to forget about it until its right on top of me. Of all the concerns that one should have about a birthday, the biggest one for me is simply "what am I going to do". This will be my 21st birthday, and I have no desire to spend it going out to bars and getting wasted. I will probably be forced by friends or family to go to a bar or two, but I can guess that they will all get drunk and I will end up the only sober one there.One thing I do look forward to is that after my birthday, I will be able to go to bars with friends and family, not for the sake of drinking, but just to be with them. i am tired of being the young one who isn't old enough yet. On the bright side, going to bars with my brother will be a great way to pass the time this summer, and I am sure he will entertain me quite well. My parents keep asking me what I want for my birthday, and I must confess, I don't really want much.  I guess I have just gotten to the point where giving other people gifts seems more enjoyable to me than receiving them. I am not quite sure when this happened, but I do know that I have been of this mindset for at least the past few years. Now, maybe this is just me, but I love to see people get excited or happy when they open a gift from me. It makes me feel so good and appreciated. Maybe even validated in a way. I suppose this joy of giving goes deeper in my life than just birthdays and Christmas. When I think about why I enjoy working backstage in theatre, I must confess the main drive is seeing how my actions benefit others. In a way, my work is a needed gift that can help an actor, director, or the audience to better understand the message portrayed by a show. There are others in this world, who do not share my joy of giving, and for them I am truly sorry. I don't believe that they know what they are missing.