My 18th Birthday: 18 Years Later

November 27, 2007

Isn't funny what lengths some parents will go to embarrass their kids? My parents had this birthday announcement placed in the local Slidell-Sentry newspaper on November 27, 1989 to celebrate my 18th birthday. I woke up to find this picture hanging on the refrigerator door. They had done something similar when my older brother turned eighteen so I should've seen it coming. Though I found it embarrassing at the time, only a few classmates actually mentioned that they had seen it in the paper that morning.

My birthday being in November meant I was one of the first of my classmates to turn 18. However, did you know that had it not been for my inability to get along with others, there would be no Class of '90 blog? That's right. My parents started me in kindergarten at the age of 4 making me one of the youngest kids in the class. At the end of the school year, my parents and teacher reviewed my overall progress and decided it would be best to make me repeat kindergarten. That one decision changed my life as it was goodbye Class of '89, hello Class of '90. Looking back now I was glad they made that decision. I just can't see myself fitting in with another class as well as did with our class.

So what I do for my 18th birthday? Well, the varsity basketball team played our neighbor and rival, Pope John Paul that night which we defeated. After the game, I nearly drove to McDonald's on Gause to get a bite to eat (the normal routine after each home game). However, on this night I had a load of homework due the next day waiting on me so I went home. Driving up to my house, I saw several cars parked along the street. My parents had thrown me a surprise pizza party and invited the boys basketball team over and of course the Northshore cheerleaders.

Here's a few minutes of video footage shot on my 18th birthday. Its hard to believe as I turn 36 today that this video was shot 18 years ago.



A special thanks to my Mom and Dad, who always went above and beyond. I love you.