Wednesday, June 1, 2011

On Roosters, Summer Vacation, and a Milestone Birthday

"When the rooster crows on the dung heap the weather stays the same, or it changes." - German proverb

I'm home! I'm home! My travels are done, school is officially out, and the days stretch open before me. The first thing I have to do is process the past two months worth of photos from Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels, Florence, and Athens, and then...it's Resume Time! I've got to dust that old thing off and start sending it around town. I'll admit I'm thrilled about entering the work force again. I'm sure that will wear off the first time I'm called into my boss's office about 'my overwhelming enthusiasm and volume,' but for now, I feel like the world is my oyster! What shall I do?? Where shall I apply?? Someone, quick, tell me.

In other news, D-Day approaches! On June 6, I turn the Big 3-0. I have to admit I'm not being very graceful, very 'Life Just Gets Better with Age' about it. I really thought--back when I was too young to think 30 was actually going to happen--that I would bound into this decade, breaking that winner's tape, flushed with the victory of wisdom and experience and ready to take on new challenges. But no, it turns out I'm not that mature. Immaturity is something I can still admit to in my 20's and receive some level of grace. As a 20-something, one is still considered somewhat naive, and decisions that don't look too far ahead are tolerated. But now! I will be in my 30's. No longer will women flap their hands dismissively at me, saying, 'Of course you say that! You have all the time in the world, you're so young!' And no longer will men laugh, 'Ahhhhh, I remember that energy. Now go refill my coffee, only one sugar this time, and then fax this report.'  Nor will I automatically get the ignorance-of-youth free ride anymore. From now on when I'm ignorant, I'm just ignorant (though maybe I've always been just ignorant and will just now be facing the music). At 30, one is expected to be a mature, responsible human being, with a real career and a ticking clock and a purse that has a moisturizer with sunblock in it. There can be no more 'When I Grow Up' procrastination. Nobody likes to see a 35 year old still talking about some dream he'll fulfill when he gets big. 

On the bright side, it will be nice to start lording all my lofty experience over all those 20-somethings, gifting them with the same dooms-day predictions I was privy to: 'You won't be able to eat like that forever!'  and 'One day you'll break your leg doing that!' and 'Just wait until you get your first chin hair!' 20-somethings love that. It totally sinks in and makes a difference. I'll also say annoying things like, 'I just can't drink that much caffeine anymore,' and 'I need shoes with more support' and 'I can't sleep a wink with that fly in the room!' So that's exciting. I've also been practicing my 'Why are movies so LOUD these days??' moan for next time I'm in a movie theater, digging out my earplugs. 

I guess there IS a lot to look forward to, now that I think about it.


Now if you'll excuse me, I should go lie in the sun. I only have four  more days to flippantly damage my skin. I'm just so young; I don't know any better. Premature aging and skin cancer are but strange threats on a distant horizon. You have to forgive me.

Big hugs and so much love,
Essss

p.s. Let me know if you need my address for my birthday present.

If I were aging in Paris, I'd just become more dapper. And discover an uncanny ability to complete a crossword.

17 comments:

  1.  ha! I'm thinking about recalibrating, myself! It's definitely 50.

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  2. Oh man, that chin hair showed up way too early in my case. Strange, whisker like thing. Creeps me out (the 2 seconds before I yank it out).

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  3. 30 only hurts when you are 29.99. Then all the pain is over once you hit 30.

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  4. Great stuff SS.  About that photo:  I think in the mid-70s I had a denim ensemble remarkably like the one being showcased by the women working on the crossword.  She is racing her dapper guy and whoever loses ride the bike in the background home.   Winner gets the Vespa.

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  5. Funny post! Don't be so flippant about sunscreen, missy. You will absolutely regret that another zero from this one! 
    Happy Birthday! Give me your address; I'm your birthday gift... j/k

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  6. Oh no, all that happens at 30! I'm in trouble, I thought I had until I was 50! I guess I better grow up! :)

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  7. haha! I'd pay to see a photo of you in denim like that. Don't they call it the Canadian tuxedo? You nailed their crossword competition. After flinging down her puzzle, she challenged Dapper to an arm wrestle.

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  8. * rubbing on the moisturizer * Sir, yes, sir! I am so looking forward to seeing you! Will you be jumping out of a cake??

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  9.  Happy Pre-emptive Birthday!  I love this post!  It almost sounds exactly like my life...just without my mother desperately flapping her hands around going "when are you going to get a 'proper' job?  Why are you not married yet?  Haven't you met any other men interested in you??  Where are my grandchildren?" etc etc. 

    I found this movie trailer that made me laugh, particularly the bit with the pregnant women and the fast forwarding...I've been feeling like this a lot since all my contemporaries have recently been settling down and creating children...Ah how I miss the days when that sort of thing was distant future stuff...http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thefuture/

    May your 30th year be full of fun-filled, responsibility-free adventures.  Keep us up-dated ;P 

    xx

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  10. looking forward to seeing what type of job 30 year old Shroni gets.... can't you get paid to write more of this?

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  11. O.M.G. That movie looks fantastic! I love the expressions on their faces when the nurse says, 'If he bonds with you, he could easily have five years' and then the cat purrs. HAHAHAHA! I have to see this! Do you think it will come to London-town??

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  12. You could be right. 29.99 is the worst age EVER!

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  13. As I recall for a certain someone's birthday in Vegas, another certain someone we will call Essss camped out at the pool all day long. I'm not sure that that kind of sun appreciation is easily lost. But here's to a jolly 30s decade (and lording over those 20-somethings)!

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  14. According to imdb, it's released in the UK on 4th November 2011

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  15. I totally relate! This year (for my 31st) I'm having a Disney Fairies themed birthday cake and then I'm going roller skating. Never grow up!!! If that means you have to be boring and serious. Run through the flat with scissors and jump on the bed. We're adults and that means we can do whatever we want.

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  16. I know, right?? I need to talk to somebody about that.

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  17. According to imdb, it's released in the UK on 4th November 2011

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