A very special day

Posted at my crib in Tucson, I wait patiently for the clock to strike midnight. The aroma of the last day in August is in the air. This particular Sunday summer night has been built up with years of anticipation. Deep within my pocket lays a plastic, rectangular, Arizona drivers license that boldly says, “under the age of 21”. However, the clock hands on my watch have still not rotated as many times as I would like to in order to make that statement on my I.D. false. My patience is running low and I have to ease my mind and step back and look the situation. The desire of the American political system for the legal drinking age limit has been successful on restricting my social life with my family and friends. I had my first “sip” of beer when I was too young to remember. As for my first beer and shot of liquor I was barely a teenager. The government has done an excellent job on catching all my friends throughout high school and college by handing out Minor In Possessions (MIPs) or Minor In Consumptions (MICs) like candy on Halloween. Personally, I have been caught by a police officer in the beautiful city of San Diego for the possession of alcohol without having a drop of alcohol in my system on our nation’s Independence Day. On the brighter note, I ended up flying out to San Diego to appear in court and the judge dismissed my case. The judge made an example of me by not charging me, because my two other friends that were also charged with me did not make the effort to go to the mandatory court appearance. That day was a very special moment for me because that criminal docket would have ruined my clean record streak that I was so very proud of. Constantly seeing and hearing incidents of cops busting someone for a fake or by just simply being underage, I am very proud of myself for lasting with out having a single offense or ticket. Twenty-one years of paranoia towards the law, finally, a variety of mixed feelings start to set in. Only a half an hour to go and those feelings become reality. The stereotypes of the “college life” depicted in various movies, particularly, Animal House, amuses me because I have gone through three-fourths of college being under the drinking age. Previous generations, including my parents, enjoyed the simplicity of the drinking age at the age of eighteen. My Every minute is valuable to me considering the demanding load of different homework assignments due tomorrow on my birthday. Nevertheless, everything always seems to work out just fine. With the intertwined emotions of anticipation that have been nagging at me for years now and it is finally here! Who would have known? Finally I have peace of mind knowing that I am not going to get busted by the po-po tonight when socializing with my friends at restaurants and bars. This very special day is my 21^st birthday. J