Hey guys! Oh lovely. It's been an amazing past couple of days ... so much love, family, friends... and alcohol hahaha! I turned 21 on June 2nd and I had a 21st birthday party at my house. I had the time of my life! I'm so thankful for everyone who was able to show up - it was filled with people who I absolutely love - all though not every single special was there, a great number showed from family from afar, to church people who I have come to consider family, to great friends who I've had the blessing to know for so long, and to cool new friends who are all about love, being chill, and having a good time.
It was a lot of hard work on me and my family - we worked really hard to fix up our house, set everything up, and cook, cook, cook. Both my mom and dad are amazing, really. I love them to death, the only people who really are there through all my ups and downs. I missed my little brother though, he had to say at university in UCLA for his upcoming finals which I totally understand. I'll just have to have a second party once he comes home in a about two weeks ;) - 'till then, he's working real hard, that's my bro!
In addition to that, all the wonderful family and friends really did make my night absolutely wonderful. I loved the feel of my party. We had drinks, music, watched the NBA playoffs (OKC!), a showcase performance (with some amazing local talent, performing in the Sacramento evening twilight), an awesome friend of mine who DJ'd ... a disco ball, lights, lots of food, and fun! I didn't worry one BIT about the flow of it, but I think I can thank the alcohol for that ;)
Now on another level, honestly 21 means something special for me - I mean, really every birthdays do. I consider myself so abundantly blessed - another year is another milestone, and I only have the Good Lord above to thank for that. A lot of homies I knew in the past years didn't even get to turn 21, but I did... that in itself is cause for great thanks and contemplation of how I really have to do the best with my time on this earth. The first thing I did in the morning (after some amazing coffee) was go to Mass at St. Paul's - I honestly think going to Mass on your birthday is absolutely necessary - I was overwhelmed with joy and peace to tears to see Jesus in the presence of the Most Blessed Eucharist on the day He willed I be born 21 years ago! :)
Now time for some visuals! Watch my pictorial progression from being sober to buzzed! I have to apologize though, I didn't get pictures throughout the night (my drunk phase...), nor did I get to take a picture with everyone (which I really wanted!) - I stopped before the evening became really dark because I just didn't have the cognitive ability to remain camera ready ;)
And the first drink of being 21? Alcohol? No, of course not! Amazing coffee, that it is. I was so happy that @templecoffee had new offerings for the start of June. This particular coffee was from Brazil ( http://templecoffee.myshopify.com/products/brazil-serra-negra-12oz-5lbs ) and the part that I LOVE about it is that it was naturally, dry processed (in addition to being a Bourbon derived varietal). PERFECT. It's extremely a hard find to get naturally processed coffee in the American market, and, hands down, I'm a dry processed coffee guy. It was amazing.
Sr. Luz! In retrospect, now I wish I took a picture with Fr. Terry.
The Magpantay Family: Mia, Tita Marigold, Tito Ben, Tita Mila, and Ninong Bernard. They drove all the way from Reno and San Jose!
Miss Mila, Tita Marigold, and Me.
"All IN" Andrew! How he got the nickname...that's another story! ;) He had work the next day and still drove all the way from San Jose! I'm sad we couldn't drink together much coz he had to drive that same night, but I'm so happy he came.
Jojo. This man, I love.
Mr. Johnny and Mrs. Maria Elena - St. Maria Goretti church family, represent!
Mr. Sal Lira... He's from a time when people did not smile in pictures lol.
Mrs. Sandy Dell
Food! My mom and my auntie and her family worked really hard for all the food... Love them so much.
This guy, Mr. Junior... He's only 11 but he's a cool cat!
Mr. Steve and the lovely Mia, all the way from San Jose too!
Filling up!
An Aaron Sandwich! Mr. Aaron Prestridge, his lovely girlfriend Da (excuse my spelling..), and your truly, after I think two beers.
Caught them in mid-shrimp! Lovely Miss Kaila Prestridge and his cool boyfriend Daniel.
Mrs. Mabel, the sweetest!
Mrs. Maria Elena, and the lovely Ablang family!
Me and Mrs. Sandy Dell again! :)
Mr. Ron, me, and little Charlie!
The exclusive 21 and under table (but not Miss Heile!)
Whoa there, getting kinda red, Aaron! Me and my Ninong Danny.
Parts of the Marquez and Benipayo family! :)
Mr. Ryan Godfrey... so thankful for him that night.
Miss Jamila, Me, and Stella Artois!
The absolutely lovely singer Miss Alysia Sambuca, her voice is absolute bliss! Very happy she came and performed with her lovely boyfriend and guitarist Ryan Godfrey. Oh yeah, and more Stella Artois!
I was also very lucky to have the performance showcase recorded by Mr. Ron Ablang so I can share them all with you here. On a real note, I'm so blessed to know these talented people and to have had them perform on my party. Thanks so much guys! :)
Act one! Mrs. Heile Gantan performing her wonderful dance piece, Otea. She was absolutely beautiful and graceful.
Act two! Miss Amaya Marquez, this girl is going to win American Idol season 19! So cute.
Act three! Me and my wonderful little sister. Really, this performance is all her, and she did great!, I just joined in so that she'd actually do it ;). JAZZ HANDS!
Act four! Mr. Ryan Godfrey and Miss Alysia Sambuca performing their rendition of Melissa Polinar's "Meant to be". I honestly think they sing this song better! So, so lovely!
Now it's time to get on to the nitty-gritty: Alcohol. So the food was eaten, the performances over... the night was all about dancing and (for those old enough) drinking! First of all, I must say, it feels ABSOLUTELY AWESOME being able to hold a beer in a picture (see above - Stella Artois): now that I'm 21, there's like, no guilty feeling whatsoever! It's like, so liberating. Hahaha! And also, I absolutely love dancing, so I pretty muched DANCED the night away!... When that "Call Me Maybe" and "Boyfriend", and "We Are Young" came on... Damn... I GOT IT! ... There's a video out there somewhere ... (This is also where the picture taking for me ends). So far the best tasting beer I've had is Stella Artois, far above Bud Light, Corona, and Heineken... Since my party, I've drank an assortment of beer, single shot, a double shot, Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Flaming Dr. Peppers (151...thanks Jonathan Cundangan !!), Dirty Girl Scouts (thanks Janelle Villanueva !!), some cooly drink by Ryan McKee, wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, from Temecula, CA), a Cuba Libre I made by myself. and an AMF (Adios Motherf**cker!... thanks Kevin Cinco !!) .. but my favorite mixed drink taste so far is just coke and rum! ... what a blast.
As far as I adore the privilege to drink alcohol, I know and understand its inherent problems when you drink too much of it. It's all fun and games to have binged at my party, but I did it with who I consider the right people, considerate and caring - they had my back. In other forums, it's absolutely dangerous. Beyond my party, I have a moderate, serious stance about alcohol and its physical effects, and ready myself if I know I'm unable to drive after a drink.
Honestly, after these past few days of drinking a taste of beers, wines, and distilled spirits/liquor... it's an entirely different palate experience for me, and I've come to the conclusion that still yet, my favorite beverage is coffee... no alcohol has the particular aroma, body, texture, flavor profile, and overall experience of fine coffee (that and... I can drink a hell of a lot of coffee and not feel like a car hit me). So it's nice that I have a broader range of taste experience, and hey, maybe somewhere out there there's a spirit, or beer, or wine, that I can call, in itself, a lovely drink experience, but I'd never trade in my coffee for any of them - it's still beyond the range alcohol can offer.... really alcohol is it's own palate echelon. But in comparison, so far, a good cup of coffee I think arguably has more depth than any beer or distilled spirit, and perhaps, matches that of wine in a different dimension.
:)
In my invitation for my party, I started the invite with a sort of epigraph:
"A reoccurring theme of life seems to be 'hold tight, then let go'" - Me.
I've come to really try my best and live that mantra. Hold tight, then let go. I'm so happy to have turned 21 and to have spent it with absolutely amazing people. I'm looking really forward to what being 21 has to offer, and I'm going to really hold on tight and enjoy it the best I can, through the good and tough times, and then let go so I can let new things happen in my life, as God designs and allows.
Best,
Aaron
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