old man take a look at my life

I am 30. 30. 30! I’ve been 30 for about a month and though I don’t feel much different than I did when I was still 29 I have been thinking a lot about the continuum of my adulthood- where I’ve been, where I’m headed. Of course I know this is a cliche. When I turned 20 I must have said to myself a hundred times, “I’m not a teenager anymore!” And I’m sure that when I turn forty I will look at the Over The Hill mugs at some rest stop somewhere and think, “That’s me.” (Is 40 still over the hill or has the crest of the hill been bumped to 50 by the Boomers? I hope it’s been bumped.) Regardless, birthdays that end with 0’s are cause for pause and reflection. The ought decade was the decade of my twenties:
2000: Sophomore year of college, I spend a semester in New York living in a hotel next door to the Dakota and studying art, architecture and theater, i.e. a Charmed Life.
2001: Back at L&C with a renewed commitment to my studies, i.e. finally seeing college as more than a social exercise. Living in Sellwood, dating a biologist, settling into nice friendships, performing in a Brecht play.
2002: Graduation followed by my first Portland summer nannying for some professors’ baby, riding a bike while drinking beers, the first What the Heck Fest which I went to on a whim but became one of the seminal experiences of my life. Then I moved to NYC with a vague notion of becoming an actress for realz.
2003: In New York. Not acting. Not living in a hotel. 6th floor walk up on the Upper East Side, slinging drinks at a pub in the shadow of the 59th Street Bridge (feeling groovy.) Dated a Republican (ugh.) Made a lot of Irish friends, didn’t see enough of my bestest friends who lived in Brooklyn and the Berkshires, respectively. Mild identity crisis, questions of “Am I an artist if I’m too chicken to audition,” etc. Lots of all-nighters locked in the pub with the rest of the staff with everyone buying rounds at half off. Back to What the Heck x2 somewhere in there, a well needed respite. Fell in love at that one.
2004: Needing a change, deciding to leave New York for Dublin, indefinitely. Heartly complications involving a spontaneous and romantic flight to SFO just days before flying to Ireland, then followed a (very) long distance love and I made my way in a (relatively) foreign land. Sharing a house with an accountant, nurse, and airline pilot (all Irish) while committing (condoned) identity theft so I could work at the oldest bar in Dublin without a visa. One night late at night walking back from a pub with a friend deciding I wanted to be a teacher. Five months later making my way back to the States and slowly west.
2005: Back in Portland, living with silly girls (in a good way), monthly trips to SFO to see the Love, monthly visits from the same. Nannying and working in a school, applying for grad school, applying for food stamps. Getting dumped so hard and being so sad. Starting this blog.
2006: Graduate school! Learning how to teach! A new love beginning on the first day of a new year! So many firsts! First job in my field! First year of teaching! First class! First grade! First apartment on my own! Exhausted, exhilarated!
2007: Major nesting- T.V. on DVD, wine, and going to bed so early. Career adrenaline running low and feeling the hard work. Saying goodbye to my first class, meeting my second. A lot of being tired. Adopting my cat.
2008: Getting into the swing of things- the mythical third year of teaching being all that it was promised to be! Teaching feeling fun, loving my class. Moving in with the man friend, another fancy first. Serving on many committees, becoming a Force on staff, gaining a cool reputation with the parents at the school. Feeling good! Having fun! Also, Obama!
2009: More good feelings plus a road trip down Route 66 with my friend of friends- a dream vacation to be sure. Moving up to second grade, keeping my sweet class for another year, more committees. Planting a garden for the first time and it looking so nice. L.A. trip to cap off a cool year. Oh and loving basketball.
2010: Turning 30! Dancing to Beyonce with my dance team in costumes! Besties visiting for my birthday and making me a cake! A trip to Australia around the corner! What next? I don’t know! I hope I like it.