Officially, no longer an asshole.

That is right... yesterday was not only my first day back at work after the not-so-very relaxing trip to the East Coast, but also (and might I add, more importantly) my 30th birthday.

I have been on this planet for 30 freaking years, 30 years, and I have still not managed to win the lottery or become famous for doing very little.  Is there NO justice in this life?

The upside here is that I am officially no longer an asshole by virtue of my age. Now, my asshole-y status will be based purely on personality and effort alone. Which just seems a lot fairer to me.  I mean, if I am going to be accused of being an asshole, I want to, at the very least, work for that title. you know. I digress.

I am glad to be done with my 20s... while many of my friends are celebrating their 3rd and 5th annual 29th birthdays (you know who you are) I am more than happy to let it go.  You see, I really believe that I left nothing on the table.  I exhausted my 20s and seriously, I am ready for a little bit of geriatric living already.

I partied like a rock star. In retrospect, I would have spaced this activity over more time. I still have flashback hangovers and I haven't had a drink in 7 years, which brings me to...

I learned how to be myself (and like myself) without liquid courage.

I fell in love (and out of love and back into love...  rather, rinse, repeat).

I learned pride and humility -- on the same day.

I know the true meaning of friendship and the meaning of sacrifice. (just because I know the meaning doesn't necessarily mean that I practice it every day.)

I have become friends with my parents. (of course, they are the only friends I have who will regularly spend lots of money on me without expecting reciprocity...)

I wrote an original piece of work over 120 pages long (my thesis, which will forever be a constant source of immense pride and complete disappointment -- see above).

I made some big mistakes and paid the consequences and have come out the other side.

I have learned to love the Disco nap with all the fiber of my being.

I balanced my checkbook. Once. (really, if you prove that you can do it... do you really have to show off month after month?)

I can program a VCR or DVR and troubleshoot most of my computer issues (restart, anyone?).

I pushed a human being out of my "you know what".

I have a career (which drives me crazy), a beautiful home (which is currently beyond dirty), a fantastic husband (who just got a Special Combat Warrior promotion to blue belt!), and an incredible (albeit somewhat irritating as of late) son.

So... I am ready to roll into my 30s.

But first, I am just going to put my head down for a few seconds.  Thinking about all that stuff is making me a little bit sleepy.

Comments

[buffi]

VERY impressive. You accomplished much more in your 20s than I. I was not unhappy to leave my 20s, either. Turning 35, however, pissed me off!!

[Wood]

Happy Birthday! is it just me, or are a disproportionate number of bloggers libras?

Great list of accomplishments.

[MetroDad]

Happy Birthday! Sounds like you've got it all under control and are ready to charge into your 30's with a cool, fun-loving perspective. That's what it's all about. Congrats!

[Holly]

Happy Birthday!! Little belated, but still heartfelt! You are truly blessed, and what is even better is that you truly know it.

I was happy to turn 30 too. But, like Buffi, 35 stung a little. I just turned 38, and that just sucked rotten eggs. Not looking forward to 40.