21 the last great birthday?

Now, when I say this, I do not mean as to imply that your birthdays become suddenly lackluster after 21, I mean that as you're growing up, 21 is the last mile marker for a child. In fact, I can remember that while growing up I didn't even consider an age existed past 21. Who cared if it did? What amazing thing happens to us after 21? So on my b-day this year, let us consider those awesome birthdays of the past and why 21 is the last great one!

5 - I don't know why, but children just love this birthday. It's almost the division between being just a little higher than a baby and being a full blown kid. School also starts at 5 and we, expecting it to be some sort of exclusive club that we had been denied up to that time, can't wait to start.

6-9 - Yes, each year brings a greater joy than the last in our child eyes. We're always looking forward to the next one, we're not 6, we're6 and 1/2 we're 6 and 1/4. We're always waiting for that birthday to come around so we can brag about being older than the last year.

10 - Ah 10, it's an enchanting number of mystery and intrigue. All of our 9th year we hear people talking about "the double digits". It causes us to yearn for it to come all the quicker as if we will gain some new life ability. 10 also bring about freedom for many boys. We can go a little farther in the neighborhood, and have to deal with a little less rules than we did before.

11 - This was a year I looked forward to all my 10th year because I was finally going to be a teenager! Yes, I couldn't wait to turn eleventeen. I was a little crushed when I learned that 13 was the beginning of the teenage years. It was on my birthday we were in Arkansas at my grandparent's house, I was opening a present facing the gas heater in the living room. Crushed.

13 - The real start of our teenage years!

15 - Every child waits for this birthday the minute they learn they will be able to learn out to drive. Having been driving now for 8ish years, I have to wonder why on earth I was looking forward to such a headache.

16 - This one goes without say. For boys, 16 is a mini 18. We can drive on our own and suddenly the world has become a much smaller place and ours for the taking! We look to this birthday as a right of passage to freedom!

18 - Not only do we become an adult (and graduate from school, hallelujah!) but we finally attain the age we where we can vote for the president. It rocked so much the first time. I voted for G. W. Bush Jr. I did it again 4 years later at 22. Don't like the war? Stop hogging all the freedom jerk.

20 - No longer a teenager! Even though nothing significant happens, it's a solidifying year as an adult. Not only are you over 18, but now you've lost the teen at the end of your age. AWESOME

21 - The last great birthday. It is the last one we build up with anticipation. At 21, there is nothing we cannot do anymore. From the time we're 15 we all know and hold 21 in a special part of our minds, waiting for the day when we too will be able to drink... even if we never use the right, we can't wait for the time when at least nothing is stopping us from doing so.

But what about after 21? As a child, did we ever look to anything after that? Nope, sure as an adult I could make another list, like

22 - graduate (for some (like me) this happens in a latter year than others)
25 - rent a car
29 - last year before 30
30 - the end of youth
40 - you were dumb at 30, 40 is the end of youth (somewhere around here is the added benefit year of finally paying off the college loans for the education you never used.)
50 - you were dumb at 40, 50 is the end of youth
55 - Four letters - A.A.R.P.

See adult list. But at 23, I don't really want to worry about that list quite yet, the kid list had a lot more fun birthdays and a lot less dreading it birthdays. Who morn's for 21, the last great birthday in the mind of a child?

21 the last great birthday?