30
I crawled out of bed at 4:49pm today, with my boots still on my feet. My shirt was rolled in a ball on the floor next to 4 bags of gifts and t-shirts. My stomach was queasy, my head hurt, and I had to pee. Obviously I didn’t make it to work. But I was smiling.
I turned 30 yesterday. I have to admit I have had mixed feelings about this day for a month or so. This milestone birthday really made me take stock of my life, my accomplishments, and my future. I expect that this is common. I didn’t want to make a big deal of this one. A little quiet retrospect is what I thought I would have preferred. You know, some time to think, and plan, and make myself feel good. I was wrong.
After much convincing, my sister and my friends talked me into planning a little birthday get-together. They actually attempted to form a surprise party, but I sort-of ruined that plan by planning my own party. They eventually had to tell me of their plans, and we re-invited everyone to an earlier, wilder, bigger party held at Puck Fair, my favorite bar in New York.
Let me thank all my very understanding, very fun, and very alcoholic friends that showed up last night and partied HARD to make my 30th birthday, one that I’ll never forget, at least parts that I actually remember. It was out of control. Let me also thank the amazing bartenders and staff of Puck Fair, who always make me and my friends welcome, and even special, when we come there. I hope I didn’t ruin your place too badly. That Super Soaker was a lot of fun. So, thank you all.
Sometime in the midst of this drunken debacle, I realized I was taking stock in the wrong parts of my life for the last month. I measured my bank account, and my credit card bills, and my title, and my salary, and my possessions. I felt like I didn’t have enough “stuff” to show for my professional success. Last night I re-realized these aren’t the things I should measure because they aren’t really the things I care about. The people that showed up last night and showed their love are really the only things that matter. Those good friends, who came out, got drunk, and became friends with each other. That’s my real success. Good friends. So, thank you good friends, for making me realize that I haven’t wasted 30 years.
On top of all that, I got hammered, saw some boobs, made out with some chicks, fell down, and laughed my ass off. This evening, I took a survey of the gifts I received. They include a bottle of Jameson, 2 Bruce Lee books, Michael Moore’s book, The Trial of Henry Kissenger book, a bag of t-shirts (left over from the wet t-shirt contest) and a Super-Soaker (also from the wet t-shirt contest), a Playstation steering wheel with force-feedback, Twister metal Black, a crown (yes, a king’s crown). I also found a bag in my room filled with 2 pairs of Victoria’s Secret panties, 2 pairs of panty hose, fake eyelashes, body moisturizer, body scrub, and some eyeliner. I think I might have taken that bag by mistake.
Anyway, that’s it. I am 30. I have good friends, and I have them to thank for making my birthday special.
Happy birthday again. It was a good night. I don’t know what time I got home but I do remember the cab driver was really taking some shit from his wife and then I woke Renee up and made her watch the Beatles Anthology. We went back to sleep about 4.
I didn’t make it in yesterday either. But thanks to Joergen and Ziya I got to live my dream and work at home. And my office is way way nicer than my cube.
I had another party to go to last night at Mars 2112 which was even stranger. All I had was soda but I got to watch my friends’ ex-girlfriend get all hysterical over him bringing another girl a year after they broke up. It was funny once she left. Oh and they make you sit in a spaceship before you get in and some kid crapped his pants and soon as the door closed. It made a journey across the universe WAY longer.
Anyway your party was way better and thank you for it. I have to go write a drunken story I promised witold he could draw. Oh and I want to borrow that Michael Moore book.
Well, okay so I’m three years late here Chris, but happy birthday.
As I may have mentioned earlier, I turn thirty this April 6th, and I must say it is weighing heavy on my mind. Yes, ok, so I own property, and a 4×4, married with children etc etc. But I look at my so-called career, and feel empty really!
I may not have my dream job, I may not even have an idea of what my dream job would be… but if I look around at the people I have in my life, those people you turn to when you’re at the lowest times…. those people who bring food to your house when you’re so depressed they know you’ll not be cooking. Those people who baby sit your children so you can have a dirty weeeknd with your spouse. Those people who you see all day long, but never run out of things to talk about with. Those people you have met online, but never face to face, but have shared so much of your life, they feel like furniture.
Thanks Chris, for this message you posted three years before me, to remind me how fortunate I actually am! ~Eve