OMG my birthday is next week!

Remember that Friends episode, The One With Chandler And Monica’s Wedding? Remember how Monica came bursting out of her room, screaming “I’m getting married!” and then did an immediate face plant? I love that scene. That’s sort of how I feel. Relive the moment in the video, at about 07:15.


My birthday’s next week! I’m turning 30! *Face plant!* Yes! That’s how I feel! It always befuddled me, why do people, especially women, not want to turn 30??? Thinking back to when I was 20 — thank God I’m not turning 20! I’ve graduated college, worked those terrible “paying dues” jobs, I’m solid in the career I’ve chosen, I have a great job, I feel no compulsion for a new one, I have my wonderful husband and am financially stable. What more could a woman ask for?


Well. A woman could always ask for more, but that’s not my point. ;-) My point is, I’m glad I’m no longer in my 20s.

I’m glad I am no longer young enough to grouped in with “those kids.” (Although, I have no doubt that I’ll continue to be grouped in with “those kids” just because I still look 15. Did I ever mention here how I was once asked for my hall pass while working as an education reporter?) I’ve never been OK with being grouped in, period, so thank God that’ll be over with.

I’m glad I’m at a point where, when I speak, people listen and really take into account what I’m saying.

I’m glad I’ll no longer be in my 20s and overly occupied with how I look in these jeans, or that skirt.

I’m glad that I’m past the age where I’m doing things just because other people are doing them.

Most of all, I’m really happy with my life. Sure, some things could be better. Life is never perfect, right? But I am where I want to be. I’m sure thankful I’m not where I was last year, or three years ago, or 10 years ago. Even though I’m glad I’m not where I used to be at those points in time, I’m glad they happened, because the entire sum of all that makes me happy to be turning 30. Seriously! I’m genuinely happy to be turning 30.

Woohoo! I love my birthday. I don’t care what number of candles it gets me, I love my birthday!

OK, OK, I found a couple of links I want to share about turning 30. One is from Andy Rooney, and while its a little prickly, its pretty funny.

A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?”. She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over 30 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.

A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she’s doing.

Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Imagication, however, I think said it best in terms of the difference between the 20s and the 30s.

Some see turning 30 as an ending‚ a conclusion. For me, completing my 20’s was similar to 8th grade graduation – “That was fun. Now let’s get on to the good stuff!” I came of age in my 20’s‚ finished college (in my opinion), married the man I wanted to live life with, moved across the country, and joined the work force. Good stuff. But I was still insecure at my class reunion, unaware that cosmetics even existed, and just still fairly new at life. I was ‘experiencing’ life in my 20’s.

Early in my 30’s, I began to examine the life I was living, and what was important. Shortly after my 31st birthday, my brother, my only sibling, was killed in a highway accident on his way to work. Shoot me in the heart. My perspective on longevity took a big hit. Tomorrow was no guarantee, for anyone. And a good deal of today is based on choices made yesterday. I spent much of my 30’s making conscious, prayerful choices, believing that they would produce something good down the road. My guides were the bible, my husband, and the few who I thought were doing certain things well (marriage, parenting, impacting people’s lives, etc.). I read, studied, and birthed three children. I became a woman.

Yay!!!!! My birthday is next week! Oh and remember how I said I wasn’t going to be going anywhere for my birthday? That turns out to not be true! On Saturday night, Trin chatted offhandedly to me, “since it is your birthday, we probably should go somewhere.” OMG, you should have seen me, jumping up and down at work. We’ll be doing a road trip to Hearst Castle — maybe even the Monterey Bay Aquarium!!!! My birthday ROCKS!

Glowing D