just another day?

After being pleasantly bombarded with birthday greetings on Facebook, and after literally spending the whole day on the phone with family and friends also passing on birthday greetings, I think I can finally weigh in on the day of turning 29.

I don't know if it's an age thing, but I haven't really felt any older or different. Remember when you were 17 and you waited ALL YEAR to turn 18 because 18 just seemed that much more adult than 17? Each birthday seemed like a milestone. 20 said goodbye to the irresponsibility of teens(for at least some people). 25 said goodbye to the relatively carefree days of the early 20's (where you were more mature than a teen, but really, what cares did you have?)(besides just getting your carcass out of bed on time for early morning classes). 25 also said farewell to university student-hood and brought on the stability of a job or possibly a marriage or maybe even kids.

So where does 29 leave you? Leaving the twenties behind, but not quite 30... When I was younger I never could imagine being burdened with oh-so-adult concerns of mortgages, the economy, church, politics, church politics, plastic baby bottles that cause cancer... I was NEVER going to worry about those sorts of things. And yet I have found myself eagerly and at times despondently discussing these issues.

Sometimes I would much rather be talking about shoes. High heels. Black suede. How I will never be caught dead wearing Crocs.

Sometimes, in the middle of a serious conversation I have an urge to blurt out things like, "I've been thinking about strawberry blonde streaks for the summer, what about you?"

Though I hope I shall remain young at heart for the rest of my days, the years I have lived have (hopefully) taught me something... and the serious issues of life like loss and pain and struggle and hard work and wondering-if-I'll-be-a-good-parent can coexist with fun and laughter and martinis and shopping and tickling little baby feet...