mom, it's my birthday! 28 today. sliding down to 30. though i don't particularly like getting older, i wouldn't want to be 24 again, or 21 again, or 18 again...unless i could do it with the experiences i've had since then. those years are all just pieces of who i am now. funny how you always look back and laugh, thinking, 'i can't believe i was like/thought/said that!'

'this is kinda a hopeful song. nnmhmmm. i'm hopeful. kinda a hopeful guy. that's what you gotta do. with all the trouble in the world the first thing you gotta do is be hopeful. the second thing you gotta do is say what you think.' - dave matthews
heard this at the boone show, and now that i have it on cd, it strikes me even more. you have to hope and trust it will all be ok, that what is good will prevail. i hope in the coming year i can do both of these things - hope and be bold enough to say what i think. which i do often, but i know there are times when i worry more about what others will think of me rather than stating my true feelings.