Today is my 23rd birthday and as each year creeps by, I feel the adulthood slowly making a bigger and bigger presence in my life. For instance, last year on my birthday I did not yet have a full time job. I had just been hired, but I was still extending my college days a bit further, sleeping in and staying out late. My, what a difference a year makes! Now if someone says “Let’s go out on a Tuesday night” I look at them like they are crazy!! Don’t they realize I have to wake up in the morning, work and then run around doing errands. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am only 23 so I still stay out late with friends and have fun, but my priorities have changed over the last twelve months. I have also begun to look toward the future more and started planning ahead. A year ago I never would have taken care to worry about my investments. Now I am planning a visit with a financial advisor to plan for retirement and invest in the future. And all those bonds from my childhood that I never thought about seeing the money from? It might be almost time to cash them in! And among other changes, for my birthday, I got a whole new load of responsibility! I got the cutest puppy for my birthday. But, it is like I had my first child. We have frequent early morning crying, morning feedings, outside trips and the various other responsibilities and training duties that come along with having a two month old puppy. This has definitely put me on a new schedule, waking me up about an hour earlier then before and giving me time to accomplish things in the morning. Things have changed dramatically over the last year. I can only wonder what changes await me this year…. -Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive