There was far too much pressure.
But I persevered with a couple of writing challenges because I felt compelled to document them.
I wasn’t going to parties or hanging out with friends in dorms every weekend when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I was working full-time at a department store. I didn’t choose to attend college, go to frat parties, or drink.
So when I met someone my age who wasn’t in college and was also working full-time, I clung to her like an 80s teen clung to a mullet.
That someone was a girl I’ll refer to as Peg for the sake of the story.
For many years, Peg and I were the best of friends. We enjoyed doing things that others might have thought were silly. Going to random Hallmark stores to look for Precious Moments figurines, or going on long drives listening to music.
I was nearly 21 years old and quite tame as far as a social life. Even though I had plenty of friends who liked to party (Peg not included), I was perfectly content to come home after a long ten-hour day/night at work, microwave my dinner, and watch Arsenio Hall with my mother. I swear to God I’m not lying.
Backstory: I had just purchased my first car a few weeks before my 21st birthday.
I was thrilled because I had purchased it entirely on my own.
It was a very proud moment for me.
So the plan was for Peg and I to celebrate my 21st birthday by going out to dinner! I told her I might have an alcoholic drink with one of those umbrella thingies, and we both burst out laughing! I even bought a new outfit.
I was getting ready for my birthday dinner when I got a phone call from Peg saying she couldn’t come out with me. Instead, she decided to go to the movies with her brother.
My parents saved the day, as parents always do by telling me to “get ready, we are going to the DQ!”
We ended up drowning my sorrows in a Peanut Buster Parfait.
While sitting in my brand new car.
On my 21st birthday.
Honestly, it didn’t sound pathetic until I was re-telling it to someone a few years ago when a friend asked what did you do on your 21st birthday?
“I spent it with my parents at the DQ after my friend blew me off.”
Gah.
But as I get older, I find it was one of my better birthdays.
A Grace Full Life 
Reblogged this on A Grace Full Life.
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I spent my 21st with my parents, too, and it is such a precious memory. I was probably the same level of *wild* that you were at 21…and have remained so, years later. I loved reading your story and the modifications you made for 2021 – it’s so funny how those memories stand out but sometimes in a good way! DQ is a lovely way to spend a 21st if you ask me 🙂
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Aww, I love this Tara! You’re so right. DQ is always a good idea. 🙂
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I have absolutely no idea what I did on my 21st birthday… I know my husband and I had already bought a house since we hadn’t been able to buy alcohol ourselves for our housewarming party, but I was never a drinker so we sure as heck didn’t go out to a bar. My birthday is in the summer so maybe we went away somewhere or had a cookout or something??
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That sounds fun! I’ve always had a good memory but it is slipping as I get older. Of course, I wrote this years ago. So glad I wrote these stories down. 🙂
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🙂 The younger generation might find it hard to believe, but back in the 80’s ALL the girls had hair like that!
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Exactly! The time we spent on our hair…was never time wasted. 😂❤️
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I can’t remember my 21st birthday..I do know that my brother bought me a jug of peach schnapps because I loved the fuzzy navel, but I was dating someone two years younger and our shitty three year relationship was 4 months away from ending..1991..gotta love it..yours though, DQ sounds wonderful.
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Omg. Peach Schapps. Ugh. I can still taste (and smell) that stuff.
DQ is wonderful, isn’t it?
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ice cream in general is wonderful, I gave up drinking once I hit 40 seems I never made it to the hangover..it always came immediately..so I quit and besides my wife is on a lot of meds to control her bipolar..no fun in drinking alone. I’ll take the schnapps and oj over any beer or hard liquor bleeech. Fruity Mixed drinks were always my thing or wine coolers or zima…Never truly a man’s man drinker lol
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I hear you. I never liked beer either.
I don’t drink much because of migraines. Ice cream is much better. 😉
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The subject of drinking back in the day will be dramatized in my podcast for next Saturday. Today’s podcast is dedicated to friend who in trying to catch a scoop for his magazine ruined and took his life.
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Oh my goodness, I will have to tune in.
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