Twenty Three.

I can't believe that I'm 23 years old! Wow, wow. Time has seriously flown by.

Technology has allowed for my friends and family from afar to make me feel so incredibly loved on my birthday. With everything from text messages, phone calls, voicemails and e-mail chains, the people in my life have really lifted me up on this special day.

I don't know if this is, like...allowed...but this is my blog, after all, so I'm going to share some e-mails from the "yo family" (as it's fondly called) e-mail chain that my beautiful college friends and I started around the time of graduation. Before we left school, we'd e-mail each other regarding each night's happenings/plans; since we've left, we e-mail everything from life updates and funny goings-on at work to silly jokes and holiday traditions.

Today there's a very special family e-mail chain going on regarding my birthday. Karli started it by suggesting my friends e-mail their favorite memory of our friendship out for us all to read and enjoy, and I thought I'd include their responses on this, my 23rd birthday post.

From Karli Meg:

"In honor of this fabulous day of Rach's birth, I propose that we all share our favorite memory of a time spent with Miss Johnson. I will begin...

I actually have way too many amazing memories with Rach to pick a fave, but I'll pick one that recently occurred. In October Rach came to visit me in Pleasanton. We basically just spent the entire weekend eating, laughing at ridiculous YouTube videos, making our television debut, and exploring Sausalito. This is just one example of what an amazing friend Rach is. She came all the way up to see me and then we had the best time doing basically nothing. That is, to me, the sign of true and deep friendship. Best friendship, I'd say!

Also: Malibu Beach Inn fire pit. Pomegranate margs at Terra. Running into the ocean with our clothes on. Done."

From Kimberly Anne:

"My favorite memory of Rachel Elizabeth Johnson was in the summer of 2005, when we took a romantic day trip to Laguna Beach - shopped, ate, talked, walked on the beach, and got Goldenspoon, of course."

From Erin Marie:

"Well, amongst a bevy of memories that all are near and dear to my heart, probably one of the sweetest was freshman year of college when we'd cuddle in rach's bed and eat ice cream and watch friends and not go to Com 200.

More recently, one of the highlights is the one night we had too much wine and decided that going to the gym and making a workout video was a good idea....and that going level 9 speed on the treadmill while being intoxicated was smart as well."

From Leslie Horvath:

"Happy day of your birth!!! Seriously, you tell BMJ thank you for giving us you! As for my favorite memory...Well, that is simple! One evening when a dear friend Carter Blanton was in town Rachel, Carter, and myself were hanging out on a street corner in the city of Santa Monica when a rather random and diverse group of men approached us... 1 decided he would like to bubble wrap me, take me to China, and feed me cereal, all while watching Japanese anime. Another wondered why we didn't have a toaster and inquired about Ms. Johnson's affiliation with Ninjas. Then there was the white middle aged guy. All in all, it was a night to remember... Which I do often:)

Rach, another fond memory would be having that incredible brunch with you and Emily Merrell in London! Soooo good!"

From Geoffrey Baker:

"First off, Feliz Cumpleaños Rach! I hope you have a flabbergastingly great day! (Yes. I just invented a new use of the word flabbergast for you.)

Secondly, even though I was a bit of a late comer to the familia I have so many great memories with you that I am finding it hard to pick just one… Oh wait. That's a lie. I know exactly which memory is my favorite. It was one night, at one of the many parties held at the Point Dume Club. The two of us came to the realization that the drinking game that was currently being played was fun, but not quite enough to keep us entertained and adequately satiated. Sooo we decided to play a couple little games on the side, the first of which was whoever said drink first won and the other person had to drink; the second, and in my opinion more ingenious, was the first person to "shoot" the other and make the sound of a gun, won and the other person had to drink, usually while pretending to die in the most cheesy and overdramatic way possible. Drink! Bang!

C. Cheesy (but true) quote time: "Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young." Sir Arthur Wing Pinero. According to Sir Pinero, you have nothing to fear lass, because you love life with a depth that would challenge Mother Teresa, God bless 'er (and you of course.)

Lastly, my only encounter with your parents was at the graduation party and they were incredible; between your dad and the cigars and the way your mom kept delivering (aka. forcing) food...incredible. Therefore, I know you are in good hands tonight and I know that the celebration will be nothing short of what you deserve. May your glass never be empty.

Love you Rach. Oh and one more thing...mascara. That is my second favorite memory. You know what I'm talkin about Rach. Miss ya."

From Michael Carter Blanton:

(Not as much as of a story as it is a rap...but amazing nonetheless.)

"I made a rap
fo yo birfday
I's screamin all da way
From Tenness-ay

Iz yo birfday
So lez git happY
Tonite I hopes
that yuu git sloppY

Yuu can try n' play Convict
Cuz thaz yo game
but widout us all der
Iz not da same

Yuu mite go bladin
Down by da pier
but widout us all der
Yuu gon shed a tear

Yuu be pimpin Leona
Down hiway one
But in a empty car
It juz aint no fun

You can had alatta fun
Down in Newport Beech
2 bad all uz
R outta reech

Dey say LA's
Da town Kiedis made
Da Lakers, Da Dodgers,
Da Promenade

Da City uh Angels
Getz so dern crowded
Tonite'll be crazy
No doubt aboudet

So from da 615 to da 310
Da Eastside Nash all da wayta SanMo

Happy birfday
And juz keep on bleedin
Pritty soon u go ta Texas
Helpin the needin

Whammy!"

From Nicholas Michael Spence:

"Probably one of the best, most wonderful, most amazingly spectacular Rachel memories I have is when we ditched malibu, jumped in Erin's jeep listening to Jack Johnson (quoting Will Ferrell the entire time), and jumped off of rocks into the clear ponds! That was the beginning of the I Phelta Thi Froroity. Though we didn't actually DO anything, we were definitely the coolest kids on campus. Our legacy lives on..."