The Big Four-O
It's my birthday today, and this is a milestone year for me, so I thought I'd do a brief retrospective.
1967 -- newborn
My mother was in the process of getting her PhD when she was pregnant with me. One day, while running goldfish through mazes, she felt herself go into labor. She called my dad, who said, "I'll be right there. Finish your tests." Babies are one thing, but redoing an experiment is a pain in the ass. She managed to complete her runs, and then she went to the hospital and gave birth to me, for which I am eternally greatful.
1977 -- ten years old
Fifth grade. Not much to say about that. I'm sure my party was nice, but I don't remember it.
1987 -- twenty years old
I was living in Pebworth Vale, U.K., near Stratford-upon-Avon, working as head instructor at an equestrian center there. I would go to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in a month.
The night of my birthday, I went out to a swanky dinner in Chipping Camden with my then boyfriend and stayed at his house. I was supposed to get back to the stable early so I could braid a horse for a horse show the next day. After spending the wee hours in a telephone box unsuccessfully calling the cab company, I finally got back to discover that someone else had braided the damned horse and I could have stayed in bed. I still have a picture I took of the sunrise.
1997 -- thirty years old
I was living in Chicago, and though I'd had many different jobs in the past ten years, I happened to be teaching horseback riding again. I tend to think of my next birthday as my real milestone year, because I moved to Austin, Texas and got a great job, got married, and basically started going somewhere with my life.
I had a fantastic party for my 30th at my parents' house (their house/porch/backyard was the backdrop of many gatherings in those years -- they had a lot of room). Among those present were: rt_hon_rackman, srisyadasti, poguer, isabeaus_mom, desdenova, m00nglum, kmriley, khedron, vito_excalibur, mushitsa, trom, kcatalyst, and annoj. Also my parents, my friends Randal, Andrea S., Greg S. (no relation), and Panther, and my cousin Katie. The pictures, which I am looking at right now, are hysterical, especially when I dressed up like Avon from Blake's 7; i.e. in leather and spikes. I wish I could have you all here today for a reprise!
2007 -- forty years old
I'm living near Orlando, I have a good marriage and marvelous kids, I have challenging work projects, gardens to potter in, and if I'm not as physically close to my friends, at least I have this new-fangled technology to help me keep in touch. I also have some friends I've never met, but who keep me company here in lj-land as well. All in all, not bad.
Although my birthday began with cleaning up dog pee, the rest of the day promises to be more fun, especially going to the Melting Pot for dinner (ooo, fondue!). And now, I'm off for another birthday treat. A nap. Did I mention I'm getting old?
1967 -- newborn
My mother was in the process of getting her PhD when she was pregnant with me. One day, while running goldfish through mazes, she felt herself go into labor. She called my dad, who said, "I'll be right there. Finish your tests." Babies are one thing, but redoing an experiment is a pain in the ass. She managed to complete her runs, and then she went to the hospital and gave birth to me, for which I am eternally greatful.
1977 -- ten years old
Fifth grade. Not much to say about that. I'm sure my party was nice, but I don't remember it.
1987 -- twenty years old
I was living in Pebworth Vale, U.K., near Stratford-upon-Avon, working as head instructor at an equestrian center there. I would go to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in a month.
The night of my birthday, I went out to a swanky dinner in Chipping Camden with my then boyfriend and stayed at his house. I was supposed to get back to the stable early so I could braid a horse for a horse show the next day. After spending the wee hours in a telephone box unsuccessfully calling the cab company, I finally got back to discover that someone else had braided the damned horse and I could have stayed in bed. I still have a picture I took of the sunrise.
1997 -- thirty years old
I was living in Chicago, and though I'd had many different jobs in the past ten years, I happened to be teaching horseback riding again. I tend to think of my next birthday as my real milestone year, because I moved to Austin, Texas and got a great job, got married, and basically started going somewhere with my life.
I had a fantastic party for my 30th at my parents' house (their house/porch/backyard was the backdrop of many gatherings in those years -- they had a lot of room). Among those present were: rt_hon_rackman, srisyadasti, poguer, isabeaus_mom, desdenova, m00nglum, kmriley, khedron, vito_excalibur, mushitsa, trom, kcatalyst, and annoj. Also my parents, my friends Randal, Andrea S., Greg S. (no relation), and Panther, and my cousin Katie. The pictures, which I am looking at right now, are hysterical, especially when I dressed up like Avon from Blake's 7; i.e. in leather and spikes. I wish I could have you all here today for a reprise!
2007 -- forty years old
I'm living near Orlando, I have a good marriage and marvelous kids, I have challenging work projects, gardens to potter in, and if I'm not as physically close to my friends, at least I have this new-fangled technology to help me keep in touch. I also have some friends I've never met, but who keep me company here in lj-land as well. All in all, not bad.
Although my birthday began with cleaning up dog pee, the rest of the day promises to be more fun, especially going to the Melting Pot for dinner (ooo, fondue!). And now, I'm off for another birthday treat. A nap. Did I mention I'm getting old?