I am 21.

Four days ago, I was sitting in a bar with five of my friends enjoying the smooth sound of a hefty hispanic man singing along Garth Brooks. In the midst of my 21st birthday celebration, I started singing along to his rendition of "I've got friends in low places" while finishing my fourth drink of the night. I sat there with a smile on my face while being hassled by my friend Ryan, "Drink your beer, Paige!" and thinking to myself, I have the best friends in the world. 

I mean, of course everyone says that when they're with good people celebrating life achievements. But in all honesty, I really do. 

How many people do you know that would sit in two in a half hours worth of traffic to come to hang out with someone they've only known for a few months? Or who do you know would drive out after work on the night of a big NBA play off game to be hassled and forced to eat a ton of food they didnt want to eat after knowing someone for barely a month? And who do you know would put up with a drunk 21 year old on the drive home, or have something professed to you by the same drunk 21 year old?

Not a lot, I bet.

My friends put up with a lot of crap. They help me through the tough times, when I'm insecure, when I feel like I have nothing else left. They motivate me into becoming a better person, they help me become more level headed, they talk sense into me. 

If it weren't for them, I'd be nothing. 

Seriously. 

I have overcome many fears and obstacles in the past year. I've made great and poor decisions, and have learned a lot from those who have tried to straighten me out. I'm not as out of control as I once was, I have stability. These friends have sat me down and shown me the important things in life: job, goals, family, friendships, getting back on the horse. They expect a lot out of me, and I don't want to disappoint them.

I realized on my 21st birthday, that I constantly tell each and every one of my friends how proud I am of them. 

Now, it's my turn to make them proud. 

6 Days.

My lack of updating disgusts me. My bad. The past couple of weeks have destroyed my ability to sit down and write a completely thought out entry.  Between work, volunteering for the Amgen Tour of California, meeting Mark Cavendish, taking part in the Santa Monica Ride of Silence, going on bike rides, AND going to countless bike races; you would think I would have a ton to write about.

I don't really.

And it's not because I'm choosing to not share it in my blog, it's just the fact that it's literally too much to recall.