In just a few short days I will be 30. OMG! The Big 3-0. I’m a tad excited. OK, I’m really ecstatic.
I’m mostly psyched to reveal how I’ve done on the goals I set nearly two years ago.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Let me take you back.
Picture it: February 2008, I was still 28. Wow, I think I just channeled Sophia Petrillo.
I’d read a magazine article and seen a Lifetime movie about making a bucket list of sorts before turning 30. I was inspired to create my own “30 things to do before 30.”
I put on my list a random mix of things that included learning to swim, baking, eating a banana and whistling with my fingers.
I’m happy to report that of the 30 things I put on my list, I have accomplished 22. I must admit, though, I had to give myself half-credit for some of the things because I’m not quite there yet.
For instance, my No. 14 was to be on time. I cannot tell a lie: Sometimes I’m on time, and sometimes I’m not. I’m getting better, though. I’ll take another half-credit for cutting the clutter around me. I did get rid of some mess that was in my car. I threw away lots of things from my work desk. That was very cathartic and scary (I am a pack rat). But it’s still half because I’ve since accumulated some more stuff on my desk and it ain’t pretty.
Now to the things I’ve accomplished.
The thing I’m most proud of is learning to swim. Yes, I learned to swim this summer. My teacher was my then 9-year-old niece, Kaylah. My family went on our annual summer family vacation to Virginia and, slowly, over the course of a week, I began swimming.
I continued what she’d taught me when I got home. I’m not a fast swimmer and still sometimes get panicky in deep water. The main thing is that if I needed to, I could save myself, and that was all I wanted. I know how to float on my back and do what my niece tells me is the “dead man’s float.” Apparently, that’s pretty popular among 9- and 10-year-olds.
I managed to choke down a banana. To some, that’s not hard. But for me, that was like nails on a chalkboard.
Do they still make chalkboards? Sorry, I digress.
The history behind the banana is that I’d not had one since I was a child. A couple of times, I’d gotten sick eating them, so I never ate them. I ate one and decided I still didn’t like them. My mother, Margaret, encouraged me to try it again. This time, I put one in a strawberry-banana smoothie.
Eureka, I found it! It gave me the good healthy stuff I needed from the banana without having to actually chomp down on one. No. 5 accomplished.
The other goal I’m proud of accomplishing is to make friends with the animals. I’ve always been afraid of cats, dogs, horses … you name it, I was scared of it. I think they call it cynophobia. Since 2008, I have washed dogs at a Humane Society dog wash, petted a miniature pony at the Horse Protection Society and cuddled up to a few more dogs.
I’ve considered getting a pet of my own, but I don’t want to get one that I can’t take the time to care for. But I think when I’m ready, I’ll get love birds. I’ll let you know how that one goes.
Just recently, I added No. 22, which was to have lunch with an old friend. I had lunch a week ago with my good friend Kathy Barringer. We ate at a new restaurant and had a chance to catch up on each other’s lives. We have plans to make it a monthly thing.
I also had lunch with a childhood friend, Tommy Hudnall. We grew up together but had sort of lost touch. We participated in the Charlotte AIDS Walk this summer and had lunch with a group of our friends. It was like old times. We laughed and cut up like always.
I did bake something from scratch. Actually I baked three things from scratch, which was my No. 18. I made a chocolate cake with homemade chocolate frosting. I’ve made pumpkin bread and an All-Bran cake. It’s just as it sounds; it’s made from All-Bran cereal. I’m looking forward to baking other things like cookies, streusel or maybe a pie. Look out, Betty Crocker.
My No. 24 was, as one of my co-workers would say, a fiasco. I bought a fire-engine-red nail polish, and it was awful. Dark or bright nail polish had always been intimidating, so I figured if I was going to go bold, why not red. It looked like my fingers were bleeding. I moved to a more subtle, dark red. That fit, and it is one of my new favorite polish colors.
I also accomplished my No. 3 and No. 28, which were to eat my veggies and drink six glasses of water a day. I eat veggies every day and drink six or more glasses of water a day.
No. 27 on my list was to sell a piece of jewelry. I am an amateur jewelry designer and sold a piece of jewelry last year. I’ve since decided to sign up for a craft show and see if I can sell more. Look for me on the Home Shopping Network one day.
I’ll get a professional massage today. Happy birthday to me! It is also my No. 8.
I’m a bit disappointed that I did not learn to whistle with my fingers. I just knew I’d be able to hail a cab or make people turn around at a sporting event. I did it once one night while sitting on my couch. I have no idea how I did it and can’t seem to do it again. I so wanted to be able to hail a cab like any good New Yorker.
Although I did not accomplish all that I set out to do, I did learn some things about myself, that I’m stronger, more creative and more confident than I ever thought. Here’s to turning 30.