I Turned 21 and Didn't Shave My Legs.

As far as 21st birthday celebrations go, I had a pretty unconventional one. 

No, I didn't have an irresponsibly awesome underwater sea exploration party, but I was equally happy anyway. 

But first, the background story!

About a month back, I was hanging out with Jill and in the midst of our discussion on *life*—which honestly just consists of bitching about recent events—I brought up my birthday and explicitly complained about how no one would throw me a party. Admittedly, it reeked of passive aggression although that wasn't my intent but honest-to-God, I didn't think anyone would throw me a party. 

While I could be celebrating my birthday, the people closest to me would probably be working or studying or doing something else a lot more fun than Partytime With Ezzie.

But that's okay.

For weeks on end, I wanted to plan a birthday party but lordy, even the guest list drove me crazy. Not to brag, but I actually do have *gasps* quite a number of friends but it's both a blessing and a curse not exactly a good thing. The thing is, if I were to invite every Tom, Dick and Henrietta, my party would probably just be a microcosm of how friendships can go awry and exes being awkward. 

To make it worse, I can't guarantee the presence of beer.

So I let the whole thing slide. Plus, I had finals and naturally, I fucked up (but that's another story). Planning a birthday would've been the last thing I wanted.

A few days approaching my birthday, Mum asked if I had plans. When I answered no, she gave me the most judgmental look. Ever. Like "How dare you not want to be happy???". Either way, she guessed I would've had no plans (because I'm unproductive, depressed and can barely even plan a meal letalone a party) and so she told me hers instead.

Celebrate in..wait for it...

AN OLD FOLKS HOME. 

My dad currently owns a nursing home and so Mummy figured we could have a simple gathering there with close relatives etc. I didn't have a problem with it and honestly, it felt good to give instead of receive. Why?

Because the looks on the inmates' faces when we fed them cake, gave them an awesome lunch and took pictures with them only showed one thing: They were indescribably happy. That made me happy. (:

Sure, some of them weren't very responsive, one wanted to kick me because she has dementia. Still, I'm glad I made some people smile on my birthday and in the process made myself smile as well. One of the grandpas there told me how they haven't had a party in the house for a while and that was he was thankful.

A picture is worth a thousand words..or at least enough to keep me from having to write an infuriatingly long post.

I have to give a convincing impression of how much I love cake (which I do, but I had food poisoning that day). Nailed it. Amazing cross between The Shining and Nightmare on Elm Street.

Mum holding my nephew. He literally jumped around singing "EPIBIRDAYTOYOO" before he was picked up.

Shari who looks more like my sister than my own sister. The buff muffin in red is Jonathan. Yes, he's single. His dad used to be a model, so you know what to expect.

My sister looks so curious here.

Cake time.

More cake time.

The cake is finishing, goddamn.

With my parents, sister and her family, both grandmas, godparents, Shari and my uncle's family and my aunt.

My darling :)

I find this picture so endearing!

Aunty Mary, Mum, Godma and Aunty Cynthia.

I'm probably gonna grow up to look like my grandma on the left.

Obligatory picture depicting the delusion of having grown up. 21! Adult! Can I responsible now? Bills!

There's a new maid in the house.

Dhanya, my niece who resembles Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender

The cake I baked myself! 

My nephew left his mark.

Look at how amazingly moist it is!

I called this Bulbasaur.

Look at me trying to be fancy with my camera and mediocre editing skills.

I don't usually take pictures with kids, but this is my protégé we're talking about!

All in all, I had a pretty awesome birthday. The next few days were spent with Aaron in Ipoh. We had the /greatest/ curry mee ever and MOTHERFLIPPING FLUFFY KAYA PUFFS.

Sin Eng Heong, ftw.