You’ve heard it before, and I’m here to say it’s true. It’s all downhill after 21. If you’re 21, you know the downward spiral I’m referring to. If you haven’t reached this bittersweet age yet, enjoy the ride, because it doesn’t last long. We all know the joys of birthdays, and as the numbers increase, the rewards get bigger until they eventually flatline.Remember when it was a big deal that you turned 13? That’s the wonderful number that separates the children from the teenagers. You start getting a little more responsibility from your parents and, in turn, a little more freedom. You can finally watch PG-13 movies and go places with your friends without parental supervision. This was also the age that I got my first cell phone and back then, that was a big deal. My friends could call me at any time, and I could stay on the phone for as long as I wanted (only if it was after 7 p.m. or on weekends, but hey, I wasn’t going to complain). I also remember this being the point where I started to realize the impact of my upcoming birthdays and what the future held in store for me.Skipping the awkward tween ages of 14 and 15, we arrive at 16, which is usually the earliest opportunity of being able to drive. Now, I was a late bloomer and didn’t get my license until I was 17 (thank you parents), but having friends that could drive at 16 was just as good. It is the greatest feeling to jump into your friend’s car, with the intention of going nowhere, and driving around all night listening to music and finding some trouble to get into. Those are the kinds of nights that make being a teenager so fun. It’s the innocent time of your life with no real responsibility or things to worry about and life couldn’t seem much better. But, in the state of Louisiana, at the age of 17, a person is no longer considered a minor or a juvenile and they can be tried in court without the special protections offered by the juvenile justice system, so maybe those innocent times won’t last too long. One upside of turning 17 is being able to see R-rated movies. No more buying tickets to another movie and sneaking in the theater, hoping not to get caught. Then we get to 18, which in actuality is a bigger birthday than 21. In the United States, at the age of 18, all legal citizens can vote and enlist in the military. On a lighter and more fun note, you can finally get into bars and buy cigarettes. But in most other countries, the legal age for everything is 18, including drinking. For some reason, the powers that be arbitrarily decided that 21 should be the legal drinking age in the United States, which makes for a big build up because once the excitement of turning 18 wears down, the itch for 21 begins. There aren’t many things special about turning 19, unless you live in Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah because this is the legal age to buy cigarettes, not 18. And unfortunately, there aren’t many exciting things about turning 20, either, except that you are no longer a teenager, so maybe this is why there is such a build up turning 21. Then, finally, you reach the pinnacle, golden age of 21 and all the alcohol and gambling that comes with it. But once the birthday celebrations are over and stores actually don’t card you as much as you thought they would, the fun wears off, just like with the other special birthday numbers. And now what? You can rent a car at 25, and that’s about it. Birthdays lose their importance over time, but I guess no one needs to celebrate their 47th birthday. Like the ole’ folks say, “It’s just another year.” So enjoy the milestones, kids, because they won’t last long. –Contact Brittany Davis at [email protected]