Today is my 30th birthday. I would be lying if I said I haven't been feeling some angst about its approach.
Over the past 5 years I've formulated a number of plans about how I would spend this day. They ranged from making my way back to a small island off the coast of Scotland, to getting a Margaret Kilgallen tattoo, to attempting to recreate the feast I cooked up for my 25th birthday. I'm not doing any of those things, but I did get up in the wee hours this morning to do a DJ shift at KALX.
I was talking to Patrick last night about my lack of motivation, and he was quick to correct me. "Anyone can go get a tattoo, but to be able to do something like DJ on your birthday...you've had to put in a lot of time and effort." He was right, of course, and as I was sitting in the studio this morning playing music that I love I realized there was no other way I'd rather start out my 30s.
But in the spirit of taking stock, I'd like to record a few things here about the past 5 years:
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I started Astrarium and have kept it current, though updates have admittedly been a bit more sporadic since I started volunteering at KALX. This site has been hugely instrumental in helping me figure out what I like to write about and how I like to write about it.
My writing has been published in a few different venues. I even got paid for it once or twice.
I am continuously blessed by my friends, both new and old. Their love, support, and creativity has gotten me through the dark times.
I moved from San Francisco to my own place in Berkeley.
I watched Sophie grow into the most awesome 6-year-old ever.
I am one show away from successfully completing my DJ training at KALX. I continue to write a dozen public service announcements to be read on the air every month.
I served as Clerk of Session at my church during a year where we were without a pastor.
I stuck it out at my day job and was recently promoted to Producer.
My heart was broken 3 times. Each time it took me approximately twice as long as it should have to get the hell over it already. 2 of them are still my dear friends.
I lost Tybalt, but I found Richter and Cardiff.
I travelled: London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the Mississippi River between Memphis and St. Louis, New Mexico, Seattle.
I read somewhere around 150 books.
I did the breast cancer walk twice.
I marched in anti-war demonstrations in San Francisco and London.
I'm still driving the same car I was in high school, when I'm not taking public transportation or riding my bike.
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In the next five years I want to continue to work on my writing, to explore the possibility of starting my own business, and to continue trying to turn people on to the good stuff.
Aimee pointed out to me that no one we know has ever said, oh you'll really miss your 20s because your 30s are just horrible. Quite the opposite.
I already like how it's all starting to come together.
Posted by nightfall at April 3, 2006 03:31 PM