Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Thirty, Flirty & Thriving (Lindy Bop)


Quick! Name the film that my title above is from. I'll wait.


Have the answer?


Well, for those who don't recognize it, the quote is from "13 Going on 30" and it is what young Jenna chants to herself as her wish on her 13th birthday. She is dying to be 30 and wants to badly to skip all the bad parts of growing up and just get to the parts where she's a beautiful adult with a wonderful life, perfect man at her side, and kickass job.


Of course, because it's a film, her wish comes true and she wakes up 30 years old to find that she has all the things she hoped for...only is she a good person and following the right path? Questionable.


I related HARD with this movie. Though it came out years after I was 13, I was very similar to Jenna. I have always always wanted to be 30.  And this week, I get to be! I am finally turning 30 tomorrow, on July 12th, and it feels like quite the accomplishment. Little Sara would be PUMPED.


When I was growing up, I was always ahead of myself. I always wanted what was next and never really cared for the present (I got that from my mother). When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teenager. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be in high school. When I was in high school, I just wanted to be in college. And when I got to college, I wanted to be out in the real world and be an adult.

Weird, huh?


So all that explained, I always fantasized about being 30. In my little kid and teenage kid mind, when I was 30, I'd be just what I always wanted - independent, self-sufficient, and an adult. I'd probably have a good job and have my own money to buy dresses and everything else I want and need. I knew I'd live on my own in my own apartment. And hopefully, along with these things, I'd have a husband and maybe even a kid or two.


Obviously, I am not QUITE where I expected by this age (I thought 30 was older than it was, I do NOT feel like I am as adult as I anticipated I'd feel!) but seeing as I am independent with my own money made at my full time job, have a dressing room full of pretty dresses, and am about to marry the most handsome, supportive, funny, smart, and amazing person I could find, I'd say I did a pretty darn good job getting to my goal of being 30 and all that comes with it.


Were my daydreams silly? Of course! Age doesn't mean anything. Just because you turn 25, 30, 35, 40, doesn't mean there are rules or set things that WILL happen. Life doesn't work that way! I don't have kids yet (even though my mom did by this time) and that's not a big deal. I've got a few years to go. They'll come eventually (hopefully in the next 2-3 years though). But I do feel like I did my younger self good and it feels GOOD to be turning 30 this week!


We celebrated this past weekend at my parents' house. It was a belated 4th of July clam and lobster fest (as it is every year and probably the one day I am not a vegan because I love me some steamed clams and lobster too much!) combined with an early birthday for me. I pulled on some polka dots courtesy of Lindy Bop and hung out on my parents' back porch all day with the family and Cody, eating and relaxing all afternoon.


How ELSE would I celebrate??