30 for 30

So, yesterday I stayed home "sick" from work. Yea, cough, cough. And Jessica and I drove out to Lake Charles to do some Blackjack playing and to just hang out. I finished my last spring program on Friday (or well, really, Saturday morning about 12:30am when the last kid was safely in a hotel for an early morning Saturday flight), so I was ready for some down time and some fun friend time. I have been seeing very little of anyone other than students and my awesome coworkers. Don't get me wrong, I love Tristyn and Katherine, but after 6 weeks, they have heard all my stories. So, it was nice to get away from work, and to just reflect on life and discuss issues that don't involve student food allergies, tours, or why the rover engines are slower than last year (look at my face, does it look like I care?). Anyway, we came across this list "Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the time she is 30." It is below. We went through the list and decided we were both doing pretty well...but NOT perfect, according to the list.

 By 30, you should have:
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.

By 30, you should know:
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend with-out ruining the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. Where to go—be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat—when your soul needs soothing.
9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30!

We decided were doing pretty good for ourselves. And this list made me think, I have come so far in the last five years. I think I spend a lot of time measuring my life based on the last year, which we all know sucked. However, if I look back 5 years, I have had some great moments, and some awesome learning experiences. And I have had some lows too...but the high definitely outnumber these lows. And somewhere along the way, I not only hit my thirties, but dove in head first. And you know what, they are kinda fun. So, a few comments on the list. First, thanks Dad for the screwdrivers and cordless drill. At the time I rolled my eyes, but now I am so glad you took care of your daughters enough to not let us be dumb girls. And loved us enough to teach us how to pretend to be dumb girls when we need something done for us. And the black bra, well, I think there is a hotel room in Vegas that will never be the same after the "black bra club" rolled in for a certain bachelorette party a few years back. I think I am doing well with the things I should have. I have some juicy stories for my old age (I LOVE when my grandmother tells her juiciest stories over wine and pasta. Now that we are old enough to hear them, she tells us EVERYTHING!). I have a non padded resume. I have a bunch of friends who let me laugh, let me cry, and let me do both at the same time. I have a satisfying career,and exercise routine (most of the time), and I am very aware that I deserve something nice every once in a while. Now, the things I should know, I am doing ok at, but still working on some of them. I have learned this year when to try harder and when to walk away, and I am working on applying and actually following through with that. I know who the secretary of state is, the others I am a little fuzzy on. I love living alone and know how to do that perfectly. I know where to go when my soul needs soothing (I have a few places, but let me tell you, 2 little blonde girls and their giggles will sooth a soul immediately). I loved my childhood and wouldn't change anything about it. The flossing I could probably work on. The trust I have down, which is funny because I just said to someone tonight "I like her, but I don't trust her..." I have learned about trust this last year, and about what you can say and who you can say it to, who you can trust with your deep dark secrets and feelings, and how quickly trust can be lost or broken. I love the length of my legs, and am probably one of the few women who wishes her hips were a little bit bigger (seriously, no butt= pants that NEVER stay up, and it's not because they are too big, there is just NOTHING for them to sit on). I think I know how to fall in love without losing myself, but give me a little while to test this one out again. The kissing one I clearly suck at, but this will be included in my juicy stories I will only tell in my old age. Yea, and you thought the blog was a tell-all...right.... Anyway, I think life does begin at 30. You don't know yourself well enough before that point. I have figured out what makes me happy, what makes me tick, and what excites me. I know what is important, and which friends to turn to in certain situations. I love that I have a good job, with a purpose, and things to do in my free time, goals, ambition, and responsibility. I like where I am in my life. I have a few things to work on, but life would be boring if we didn't have things to fix about ourselves, to work on improving. And I love that! The question is, what am I supposed to have and know by 40? And don't say gray hair, because that is so already happening...