...XXX

The dirty thirty came today. It was just as awful as I expected it to be.

I discovered that the only thing worse than turning 30 on a Wednesday in Waco is having the last night of your 20's fall on a Tuesday. In Waco. Lame.


Caro was oblivious to this milestone, as I convinced her last year that I was 19. She doesn't understand the fuss about this particular birthday as I'm only 20 now, and that's younger than Daddy, and not nearly as old as, say, Auntie M - who is 28. Ugh. The lies that haunt.


I found her digging in my closet.
M: What are you looking for?
C: Extra American flags.
M: In my shoe rack?
C: Yeah, I need to find one. I wanna make a dress out of it.
M: Why?
C: To wear to the parade.
M: Even if we had an extra one, I couldn't let you alter it to make a dress. It's considered disrespectful.
C: (pause) Even if it's pretty?
M: Yes, even if it's pretty.
C: Hmph. (pause) Is it okay to dress like a flag?
M: Knock yourself out.