Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

So, it's another week riddled with celebrations! Kicking off the festivities...today, my mom turned 68—quite a feat, considering the last couple months of chemo nearly killed her. How did she celebrate? Well, my brother and I drove down to San Diego with balloons, flowers, lunch and cards...and then, after about an hour of visiting, she got the gift that will keep on giving: A power-port installed for the new chemo she'll be starting tomorrow. WOO HOO! I deemed the occasion her official "port-o-party." (Hey, we're at the laugh-at-it-or-you-will-go-crazy-oh-wait-we’re-already-crazy phase in the whole cancer battle.) Anyway…Mom is holding up well, all things considered and here’s hoping this chemo keeps her more comfortable...and energized...and alive...than the last did.

But it doesn't stop there. Nope! My husband is turning FORTY this Thursday! We'll be celebrating with all kinds of international fare, including Mexican (his favorite) and Japanese (if I can get a reservation at Katsu-ya on short notice). He'll also be getting some gifts befitting his age, and some that—in his words, not mine—might also indicate he should still be wearing Star Wars Pull-ups. Hey…40 years forward, 38 years back. It happens.

Finally...in super-exciting news, my dear friend Stephanie Kuehnert is celebrating the release of her sophomore YA novel, Ballads of Suburbia, which comes out tomorrow. Stephanie isn't just a phenomenal writer, she's a phenomenal person—like, a punk rock girl with a heart of gold—and you MUST. READ. HER. BOOKS. (I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, her debut, came out last summer.) You should also check out the huge Ballads Cyber-Release Party on her blog, where she has a bunch of cool authors and other creative types sharing their own ballads (snapshots of life-altering experiences, set to the music that accompanied or somehow shaped those moments). I’m certainly not cool enough to participate, but let’s just say Stephanie let me crash the festivities today. I returned the favor by making everyone cry. Sorry about that. Sometimes I just go deep. In all seriousness, my ballad marks the first time I’ve ever publicly discussed this particularly painful experience from my college days, and I hope you’ll all check it out—if not for me, then in memory of a dear friend of mine…and in honor of Stephanie’s book launch.

Okay! WHEW! Shake it off. Back to the happy-happy-joy-joy…Happy birthday, Mom! Happy birthday, husband! Happy release day, Stephanie!

XOXO Alexa Joy-Joy Young