They say...

... that life begins at 30.

Thus far my new life looks remarkably like the old one!

Unfortunately, my birthday was not the blow-out celebration that I had hoped it would be. The party that Mongo & I were planning fell through, neither the Fireman nor two of my closest friends could be in town, and almost everyone else forgot. So... I took the day off work and spent it doing necessary, non-birthday related things. Like laundry. Do I know how to party or what?

The long weekend wasn't a complete loss, though, as Firebug sent me a beautiful flower arrangement and Teece took me out for a delicious champagne & fondue dinner on Friday night. I spent Saturday with culfinglin, running loose through Ikea and an assortment of other stores, before meeting a couple of other friends for dinner. Sunday was devoted to more errands and a raucous barbeque that found me running through the streets of Glendale playing a Pakistani game called "7 Tiles." I never did quite get all the rules, but my legs are still sore from all the running and I have bright purple, tennis-ball shaped bruise on my thigh so I must have had a good time.

It wasn't quite the birthday I'd imagined, but it was still full of good friends and festive activities so I'm counting myself very lucky.

Thank you to everyone who called, emailed, messaged, indulged me in food and drinks, or otherwise recognized my birthday; you all are fabulous beyond measure :)

With that said, let's see how I'm doing on the list, shall we?

By the age of 30, every woman should have:

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you've come. Check

2. Enough money within your control to move out and rent a place on your own, even if you never want or need to. Check (that damn well better be a check since I live alone)

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour. Check

4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you're not ashamed to be seen carrying. Check

5. A youth you're content to move beyond. CHECK

6. A past juicy enough that you're looking forward to retelling it in your old age. Check (though it's not so much a "past" as it is an "ongoing project" - heh)

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age and some money set aside to help fund it. Realization? Check. Money? Not so much check, yet.

8. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra. Check

9. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry. Check

10. A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family. Nope, but I have my eye on just the table...

11. Eight matching plates, wineglasses with stems and a recipe for a meal that will make your guests feel honored. Check (not that I have space to seat 8 people for dinner in my house, but oh well)

12. A resume that is not even the slightest bit padded. Check!

13. A feeling of control over your destiny. Check (and damn was that one hard won)

14. A skin care regime, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don't get better after 30, and all those other facets of life that do get better. 3/4 check - I feel like that's a lot lumped into #14!

By the age of 30, every woman should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself. Check (again, that one was a hard-learned lesson)

2. How you feel about having kids. Check

3. How to quit a job, break-up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship. Check

4. When to try harder and when to walk away. Check (though I still struggle with actually walking away when I know that I should)

5. How to kiss a man in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn't like to happen next. Check

6. How to have a good time at a party you'd never choose to attend. Check

7. How to ask for what you want in a way that make it most likely you'll get it. Check

8. That you can't change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents. CHECK

9. That you childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over. Check

10. What you would and wouldn't do for love or more. Check

11. How to live alone, even if you don't like it. Check (been doing it for years now...)

12. Who you can trust, who you can't, and why you shouldn't take it personally. Check

13. Where to go - be it your best friend's kitchen table or a charming inn hidden in the woods - when your soul needs soothing. Check

14. What you can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year. Check (but I still have a bad habit of over-committing myself)

15. Why they say life begins at 30. Not quite a check yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out...

Comments

[ninja rad]

i am so thankful you were born 30 years ago and have been a part of my life for the last oh 13!!! i adore you. i love you. *mwah*

[Tag]

Hey You! Glad you had fun with my lady!

Sorry other plans fell through. On my 30th I had a party with about 500 people that cost me at least $2k. I don't remember exactly it may have been more. I don't actually remember much of it at all come to think of it. Running naked in the snow. I remember that. Jumping off a hotel roof. I vaguely remember that.

LOL!

All this to say I am of the firm belief the 30s kick ass. Though your bday may have been kind of subdued the 30s are SO much better than the 20s in SO many ways. You'll see....

:-)

[Keith]

Oh dear Lord. I am a sucky, sucky friend. And I know that I've been neglecting lunches. Happy belated birthday, and I promise I will try to catch up with you soon!

[Drew]

I'm sorry that your birthday didn't turn out as expected. Mine didn't either. I just got so drunk that I didn't get upset that the only people I was seeing on my birthday were complete strangers.

Hot, naked strangers, but still strangers.

I'm so proud of reading your list. You know our 12 year anniversary is coming up in about 2 weeks? :)