30 by 30: When Life Starts

As My 30th birthday is recklessly running me down, I am called to my last 29 years.   I thumbed through the yearbooks of my school days reflecting on the retro fashions,  rad lingo,  fastidious taste buds,  unwarranted primping time and superfluous commodities that once seemed such a necessity.  My cassette tapes turned to CD's and again to  digital music, my personal phone line and answering machine is now portable, more than $8 a month and gas prices are up a few dollars.   I found some old birthday and holiday cards and wondered  to whom the signature belonged but equally obliged as,then, it was appropo to hand write a note.  There were pictures of my first day of school, my first  first car, my first apartment and my first love.  I found tears  swelling under my lids as my recollection of the last time I spoke to a classmate,  never called someone back, and fought with my brothers.   The last ten years I traced my steps back to college, back to Dallas, back to finding the real me. 
I'm excited to include this tribute to the thirties as I have read it a few times but never with the perspective of a woman transitioning to my third decade!   It was originally created by pamela-redmond-satran  and published in Glamour magazine in 1997.   I am reposting her list and, of course, adding a little flavour of my own as depicted in white text.   As I enter this chapter here are the  "30 by 30"

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one, or 10, who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent home that is decorated, by you, that tells the story of you
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4.  Lingerie that perfectly suits YOU to wear whenever you want
5. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re proud to be seen carrying.
6. An appreciation for a youth you’re content to move beyond and how it has contributed to your life, but does not define you
7. A past  so fruitful that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
8. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
9. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
10. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded personal AND professionally
11. One friend who always makes you laugh and that lets you cry.
12. A set of screwdrivers, a flashlight, how to change a flat and a black lace bra
13. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it, and the belief that you deserve it
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better.

By 30, you should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids I am in the gray on this one, what if your mind changes when meeting your mate?
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the relationship.
4. When to work harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. How to take control of your own life, exude class and emanate fearlessness
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, lying or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault and when to accept responsibility for things that are
15. Why they say life begins at 30

Happy 30th Birthday to me and all of my friends who hit the big 3-0 this year ( and Kodi and Nick who turn 30 next year)   Thank you for all the joy, memories and future!
Here's a look back at my prequel to life:




One big picture of little parts of my last 29 years