24!

OK, so I made it. 24 years. I celebrated the occasion by bringing the people I care most about into Manhattan for a festival in my honor-- complete with savory Italian food, drinks and karaoke until well into the next morning. The night was not without its share of, well, hindrances. But the important thing is that everything ended up falling into place and it ended well and good. So good that nobody was really into New Year's Eve festivities the next day, which was fine by me.