So What Do You Say When We’re Twenty-Six |Birthday Post Volume 7

Dear middle sister,

I just copied and pasted the opener from your last birthday post. I can’t describe how thrilled I am that I don’t have to go back and link every post we’ve made in the past six years. Thank you for the doing the work so I don’t ever have to again. Also, I hope my choice of birthday-post-theme isn’t outside of my lane – I know I haven’t delved into this show that much, but the gifs are just. too good. Plus this show has given birth to too many memes for me to just let it lie.

Dear everyone else,

I’ve linked below, with no help at all from anyone else, all the words my sister and I have thrown at each other in the name of love and tradition. Enjoy if you like, then read what I am realizing now is essentially a pretty personal birthday letter, you creeps.

Mikayla Rae

Mikayla turns sixteen (Studio Ghibli) • Mikayla turns seventeen (Psych) • Mikayla turns eighteen (Avengers) • Mikayla turns nineteen (​Siblings) • Mikayla turns twenty (SNL) • Mikayla turns twenty-one (Alcohol) • Mikayla turns twenty-two (Gravity Falls)

Jennifer Ryan

Jen turns twenty (BBC) • Jen turns twenty-one (Community) • Jen turns twenty-two (Taylor Swift) • Jen turns twenty-three (Bob’s Burgers) • Jen turns twenty-four (X-Files) • Jen turns twenty-five (Firefly)

________________

Jennifer, another year has gone by where you absolutely graced the daylights out of the world with your existence. Graced it right the hell up. I may not have gotten to spend a lot of this year with you in person, but everytime I see a text, an instagram post, an unimaginably long snapchat story, a postcard, or anything you’ve sent me or been involved in, I have the same reaction:

Jennifer!

You’re a wonder. Your self-motivation is wild; I’m so impressed with how much you make yourself train, or how consistent and dedicated you are to doing your job well. You’re a beast.

(And don’t worry about your sleepytime tea songs. You’re no crazier than normal.)

Your late twenties are here, and that’s sick, my dude. Don’t get down about it, you’re still a spring chicken.

You appreciate a good view like no one else –

I mean, you have to. You moved down to Redwood country.

You’re such a gracious host when I make it down, not to mention you’ve spearheaded the most magical beachside picnics I’ve ever attended.

(NEVER too much cheese)

Thanks for always listening to me, and never being the kind of person to shoot people down or make someone feel silly for their interests or passions. Your positivity and genuine interest in people never goes unnoticed, ever! You’re smart, you’re cute, you’re so loved. I used to hate running into people who asked me about you because I missed you so bad and it hurt to remember you weren’t a ten minute drive away anymore. Now I adore it. When I see someone around town who asks “How’s Jen doing?” I absolutely light up because I am so excited to share with people that Jen seems so happy, Jen works at a lighthouse (WHAT), Jen sent me a picture last week, wait, let me show you – I’m so proud of her!!

Even if you weren’t doing any of that, Jen, you’d still mean the world to me – to me and to your whole family.

I love you Jen! I hope twenty-six suits you. I hope this year is full of the best milestones. I hope you see harbor seals everyday. I hope you find that you always know the right thing to do and you always have the courage to do it. I hope you stop watching scary documentaries before bed.

STOP IT JEN I WANT YOU TO SLEEP WELL YOU PUNK

In any case?? I love you and I miss you and I’m excited to party with you next month.

God bless babe.

The Currency of Being 23 | One Nerdy Turn Deserves Another Vol. 4

Jennifer! It’s Saturday, March 5, 2016.

You know what that means.

It’s a Bob’s Burgers birthday. Because what else? (I mean besides Studio Ghibli, BBC, Psych, Community, Avengers, Taylor Swift, and fiction siblings) And anyway, who better to show us a good time than the Belcher family themselves?

Or more generally embarassing? Let’s get straight to today’s program, Jenzie.

You’re turning twenty-three today!

What a high-quality age to be. Plus, you’ve still got seven whole years left on your 30-before-30 list, and if I know anyone who specializes in stuffing as much intention and joy into a set amount of time, it’s you. So just keep being that, you over-achieving nerd.

By the way, I don’t want to hear any of your garbage about 23 being a boring age, okay? Every notch added to the amount of years you’ve been alive is an actual party and anyway, there are plenty of songs about being your age, even now that you’re no longer feeling twenty-two. (Everything will [still] be alright if you keep me next to you)

Whether we’re road tripping, watching Doctor Who on Thursday nights, or planning our debut Thanksgiving album with dad, it’s always a good time.

And I mean now??? Now we’re in New York together????? I love this. Let’s do this all the time. You have such an adventurous spirit, and you’re always hopping to another cool idea. Sorry if the fam and I overload you with snapchats and texts about tulips and keytars whenever you’re away. I know you probably hope that we take your spells away from us with quiet dignity and without any residual clinginess but…

No matter what you do on your adventures, keep your eyes on what’s important, and live for something bigger than yourself. We aren’t each of us responsible for our existence, but we’re 100% responsible for our lives, and the way our lives touch others. We have to seize every moment and live it to the fullest, because we never know what’s going to happen next.

Unsurprisingly, Gene speaks the truth. Just remember nothing you’ll go through is truly hopeless. No burden you’re given cannot be overcome (but complaining never hurt anyone either).

And never doubt that you are loved. (of course, anyone you’ve ever met will tell you that) Thanks for always being an awesome sibling and and friend to your super cute sisters.

I know you always say you’re Louise, so thank you for somehow using your evil powers for the better of the people around you. But as Tina, I am ready to dispense some wisdom to you in your twenty-third year.

• Keep yourself safe by keeping yourself smart.

• Never be afraid of sincerity.

• Take special time to take care of the things that are important to you.

• (On that note, always make sure your priorities are straight.)

• Don’t be afraid to try new things!

You know, actually, let me try that again. Don’t be afraid to try new things!

Perfect.

• And know when to treat yourself. Pro Tip: Today. Treat yourself today.

I hope this year is one of the best for you, but still only one in a very long line of ever-improving years. Happy birthday Jennifer, and God bless! It’s gonna be a good day whether you like it or not, dang it. We have a SCHEDULE to follow.

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU | One Nerdy Turn Deserves Another Volume 3

Dear Jennifer,

You knew this was coming didn’t you? So far, our birthday gif volleys have included anime, general BBC, Psych, Community, Avengers – But on this, your twenty-second birthday, there was only one choice.

Let me try again.

Happy birthday, Jen! There may be no legally-recognized benefits to turning twenty-two, but hey, at twenty-one you can drink, and at twenty-two, you can be, uh, (checking lyrics) happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time?? In any case, I hope this day’s all magical and no miserable (oh yeahhhhhh). Tonight’s the night you forget about the deadlines (but not really because you’re an adult and you have to work tomorrow); it’s time.

WHOA-OH

Jennifer, YOU’RE TWENTY-TWO.

How did this even happen? You unspeakably darling young woman you, you’re growing up so fast. What are you going to get yourself for your birthday?

By the way, I will still come over to your house if you get that cat you’ve been talking about. I’ll even only be miserable in secret. But for the sake of all the people in your life that are allergic to cats, you should totally look into getting one that’s allergen-free. If not, you know, just make the decision between the people you love and housing an animal that will shed on everything you love.

More to the point of your impending new era of life: I think you’ll rule at it.

It’s been enchanting to meet you/know you my whole life, and I’m beyond stoked for our future adventures. And while I’m more or less convinced there’s not a person alive you couldn’t charm, the world is full of people who aren’t that nice and will try to deflect their discouraging thoughts and negativity toward you.

However, time has taught me, you, and clearly Taylor Swift a valuable lesson we should never forget.

So keep doing you, because you are glorious. Your positive attitude and ambitious excitement is contagious and you can use it to fire people up, amass armies, and just get crap done. It might seem weird to others at first…

But they’ll end up loving you for it. Devote time to figuring out what you want, devote what you want to the Lord, devote yourself to making it happen, and you can’t lose.

Disclaimer: Even then, it’s sometimes going to feel like you have no idea what you’re doing.

But hey, guess what?

Keep waking up in the morning and using what you’ve learned to start over. Check in with yourself from time to time to make sure you’re still fighting for something that matters to you and not losing yourself in the process.

And never ever be too proud to give yourself a pep talk.

Of course, if you’re ever not up for doing it yourself, then I’m very much available to give you that pep talk instead.

And don’t forget the importance of precision of speech.

(Rosemary you’re a disgrace)

Anyway, it is your birthday – I know you’re proud of all that “running a half-marathon” and “staying healthy” trash you’ve been been doing lately,

(and fine, you totally should be proud) but I hope you still find it in your heart to murder some birthday cake today as well.

((I am equal parts very ashamed and incredibly proud of that wordplay by the way. I have zero regrets and there’s no way you can prove to me you’re not chortling at my pun right now, so I win. I hope you’re reading this on your phone in public and making faces whenever I try to be funny.))

Hey, enjoy your twenty-second year of life, would you? Play to win, cos you love the game.

Have a very happy birthday.

And I hope this song is stuck in your head at least until the end of the week. (You deserve it)