Last Year of My Twenties

I am 29 years old today! For almost every birthday during my twenties, I have gone kayaking down Cedar Creek with a group of friends. I have been swimming and canoeing in Cedar Creek my whole life. Many people associate the Jersey Shore just with the beach, but the fact is, the Pine Barrens are equally as magical, home to dozens of rare, endangered plant and animal species. Cedar Creek is one of the many beautiful rivers running through the pines. 

Each year there is a different group of people, and some birthdays have been better than others. Last year, I actually canceled my plans and isolated for the day. I attended a 3 hour yoga class, jumped in the ocean and then wandered around on the beach until my good friend kidnapped me to buy me dinner. Friends like that are priceless. 

As it just occurred to me that this is the last year of my twenties, I thought it would be worth sharing images I posed for on my 20th birthday! Coincidentally, these images, taken by Christopher Flanegan, were taken in Cedar Creek, although this was before the annual birthday trip was conceived. 

I'm only now beginning to appreciate these images, and I'll share the story since I rarely talk about my personal life. During this shoot I was hungover, stoned and sleep deprived. I had been taking 22 credits at a time in college and working three jobs. I had just acquired my Associates Degree and taking a month off before moving to my four year school. In between school and work, I was either at a concert or running around the woods on a psychedelic adventure. Sleep was such a rarity, I would fall from full consciousness deep into REM wake dreams, marked by sleep paralysis. As a 20 year old, it never occurred to me that my body was begging for rest. Several hours after this shoot, I got dumped by my boyfriend and proceeded to engage in compensatory debauchery, which included a colorful assortment of substances. I also got a piercing that day with my best friend, just because.

Anyway, I made it. No regrets. There were moments of exhilarating fun to match each heartache, and dozens of lessons. 

By the time you read this, I will probably be halfway down the river, enjoying the last hurrah of my 20s. XOXO.