Thinking of Thirty

We have a lot of holiday birthdays in my family.  My Dad was born on Mother's Day, my nephew and my brother-in-law have New Year's Eve birthdays, my husband is often forced to celebrate on Thanksgiving, and this year, my birthday fell on Father's Day. 

I would have been perfectly happy to skip it, as I am vastly in favor of bypassing thirty altogether.  But my husband, my family, and the biggest display of flowers I've ever received wouldn't let me off that easily. 

I got to thinking about how quickly we go from wanting to get older to... not wanting to get older.  It's not even that I'm afraid of thirty {shudder} or forty or even fifty.  It's more that, if given the choice, I would choose to halt time rather than urge it to continue.  Ten years ago when I was turning twenty, I was so excited to be leaving my teens behind, to embrace the newfound credibility of being "in my twenties" and to grow closer to the few remaining milestones I hadn't yet reached. 

So this year I think I'm going to try to focus on all of the best parts of being thirty. 

1)  I don't get carded anymore.  And before you point out that this may indicate I'm looking older, I am choosing to see it as a blessing.  Because for every every person that doesn't card me, that's one less person that has to see my driver's license photo.  Those people should view this as a blessing as well.


2)  I'm young enough to have more kids, and old enough to stop.  Or, in layman's terms, I'm foolish enough to want another, but smart enough to know better.  I've met my kids, and I don't have the energy for another.  I'm not 29 anymore.

3)  I'm not concerned with what's cool.  It's been years since I kept up with music on the radio, usually only picking up on particular songs after they've been overplayed, used on countless commercials and are now only $0.99 on iTunes.  And if I want aqua-colored sunglasses that are too expensive but probably not at all in style, that's just fine with me, because I love them.

4)  I've enjoyed another year with people I love.  I spend an awful lot of time on this site poking fun at my family and even myself, but the truth of the matter is that I am incredibly lucky to have so many people in my life that care about me.  And if it takes turning thirty for that to continue, then bring it on, life. 

Within reason, of course.  Thirty is enough for now.