2nd Place - Heidi Knutson - "A Birthday to Remember"

It was the day my friends and family said I would remember for years to come—my 21st birthday! Not only was it my 21st birthday, but it was also my GOLDEN 21st birthday! It was sure to be an unforgettable day. Little did I know what a day it would be.

I awoke to bright sunshine gleaming through my bedroom window. A light, summery breeze drifted through my room, making my dangling chimes cling so softly. It was my birthday! A very beautiful morning, indeed! I had already planned a day and night full of activities. I planned to lounge in leisure at the lake throughout the afternoon with my parents. At night, my boyfriend, Mike, planned to take me out for supper. I twisted his arm enough to take me to my favorite restaurant in Glenwood-Lakeside Ballroom.

The morning and afternoon passed quickly. My cheeks became highlighted with a rosy glow from the hours of skimming across the waves in my tube. After returning home, I changed from my swimming attire to the new black and white flowered sun dress I had bought for the evening. At the restaurant, Mike reserved a lakeside table. The waves nearly tickled our toes as they splashed against the smooth rocks below our table. The breeze off Lake Minnewaska steadily blew across our faces and mixed with the scent of sizzling cuisine.

Supper was fabulous! As the sun began to set, we finished our meal and voyaged off to our next destination. As far as I knew, the rest of the night wasn't previously planned.   We had decided to go wherever the car took us, making the best of my big 21! With Mike behind the wheel, we funneled out of Glenwood, but before we got too far, we ended up at the scenic outlook that overlooked the lake and city. Being the star gazer I am, Mike decided to pack a blanket and spend some time staring at the diamonds in the sky from this location we had previously visited on our first date.

The sky was exquisite, but before long, Mike started to discretely dig in his pocket for something.

"I have a birthday present for you," he grinned anxiously.
"I thought you already gave me all my presents," I replied inquisitively.

Without another word spoken, Mike shuffled onto his knees and made me forget about everything that had previously happened throughout the day. I no longer had to look to the sky to see the twinkling diamonds since Mike revealed a shimmering diamond ring enveloped in his palms. I was speechless, breathless, and overwhelmed. The moon light reflected off the diamond into Mike's eyes as he pronounced his desire to spend the rest of his life by my side. My stomach churned and my heart raced. My first love—my one and only boyfriend was asking to marry me! After minutes of speechlessness and tears, I gleefully accepted the best birthday present I had every received.

After a moment of embrace, we excitedly raced to tell our friends and family the life changing news. My birthday had started beautifully and ended even more brilliantly. I felt like a princess being whisked away to her happily ever after. My 21st birthday was by far my most memorable summer happening. It wasn't a 21st birthday many people expect to hear about, but for me, it was unquestionably perfect. It was full of the aspects of life that simply cannot be replaced: fun, friends, family, and love.