In nine days, I will be 30.
Dang.
You know, I always thought I would remain young forever. It’s funny how when you’re young, you can’t wait to grow up, and when you’re grown up, you wish you could slow everything down just a tad.
Let the days linger so I can have more quality time with my wife. Let the weeks go languid so I can still have my grandmother around to share wisdom and lumpia recipes. Let the months go slow so I can still enjoy my mother’s company. Let the years crawl by so I can keep Nathan young and innocent, and really enjoy Baby Deen #2 before s/he leaves for college.
Truth is, I’m not afraid of 30. I actually welcome 30 (albeit with the excitement that comes with welcoming the BIR guy coming to visit more than, say, Kris Aquino – yeah, I do wanna meet her).
I’ve got a beautiful, intelligent, sweet, wonderful wife; a brilliant, handsome, sensitive son; another God-blessing on the way with the upcoming birth of my second child; a fantastic job with the most fantastic company and the most fantastic people to work with; and enough body fat to keep me alive in times of famine.
Sure, I would’ve liked to be rich and famous. But rich means dealing with the taxes and keeping my kids away from kidnappers. Famous means never having a minute’s peace because everyone wants a piece of you.
Sure, I’d like to be slim again. Not for me, but for my family because I would like to stick around longer to see my kids off to college. But you know what? I think I can do it, because I’ve done it before. With the support of my family, my friends (who’ve seen me in thick and thin then thick again), and my God, I could be. Why not?
What’s so scary about 30? Some people get all worried and problematic. Me, I’m ready and raring to go. Bring on the wrinkles.
(Although I am considering a 4th tattoo as a birthday gift to myself. Hobbes the tiger on my ankle. What do you think?)
8 comments
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February 17, 2007 at 11:09 am
ChrisH
Ganns,
30 ain’t bad, especially if you have something to look forward to, like your son growing up, or like seeing Baby #2, or going to that long-planned-vacation-but-never-really-happened…
i am 38 but i don’t really feel the age, except for a few joint pains and that constant ache on my lower back… but my wife and son keeps me younger than i feel!!
my son keeps me fit by having me run around the house after him… and my wife by — well, let’s just say that i never had a complete sleep since we were together… 😉
so, 30 really is not so bad, after all!! happy birthday, ganns, in 30 days… hehehe
Ciao… 8)
February 17, 2007 at 3:41 pm
ganns
Amen, Chris! Amen!
February 19, 2007 at 3:25 am
jeff
i have this habit of rubbing it in to people how old i was exactly when graduated and started working, but i won’t do that now. Some other time, maybe. lol
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR DEEN 😀
oh yeah, no signs of you signing up in my gym yet? 😦 you know where to look for me 😛
February 19, 2007 at 5:03 am
ganns
Hey Jeff!
Cathy and I discussed it, and there simply isn’t enough time right now for me to schedule in regular workouts enough to make it worth it. 😦
But let’s keep in touch, yeah, you young whippersnapper.
February 20, 2007 at 5:02 am
Daniel Johnson Jr
I remember 30. It was about 7 years ago. Wow, I feel old.
February 20, 2007 at 7:04 am
Vida
You’re only as old as you feel (and how you perceive and live life). Besides, you don’t even look like you’re in your late 20’s. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Ganns.
February 20, 2007 at 1:52 pm
benj
The surefire way to feel younger: talk to much older people.
Happy Birhday Mister Dean!
February 21, 2007 at 10:49 am
ganns
Dan: You think you feel old? I’m in the 10% of people in my office above 30. Oi vey.
Thanks, Vida and benj! I’ll be sure to hang out with the older generation, then.