Yesterday, I paid college tuition AND book fees in full, from my own savings account. Yay me. I am growing up.

Even at my age, I can experience firsts.

I am so proud of myself, I should be rewarded.

I am grateful for the reward I would like. Ding Dongs. I seriously need a Ding Dong right now, and if I didn’t have to work, I would walk to the grocery store and get a box. Walk, not drive. Because…Ding Dongs.

But I am also grateful for work because it is keeping me from zombie-ing down the street to the grocery store on a stressful day, because I stress eat, and Ding Dongs would be my dinner, dessert, and bedtime snack tonight.

But if you happened to visit, I would share the box. I promise. And I would be grateful for company, but only if you cookie-monstered Ding Dongs with me.

I am grateful for Jack Johnson’s Sharing Song. It goes with Ding Dongs quite nicely.

Finally, and back to that college tuition first, the reason I began this post: I am grateful for a conversation I had with my sister as we walked around the University of Arkansas arena during graduation a month ago. Someday, SOMEDAY, I WILL get my degree. I don’t know what it will be in, but I WILL walk across a stage with a mortarboard making my hair flat.

I am grateful for 6 more hours to tackle this summer.

And I am grateful for walking, not for Ding Dongs, but for that “Freshman 15” that has stuck with me for several years now.

Maybe I’m not actually growing UP, just growing OUT.