Turning 30 is Sunny and Bright

Okay, so I've reached the big three-oh. Big, because it is momentous, but not big, in that it hasn't caused any anxiety. I think that being a single woman in your thirties has become less foreboding and fraught with urgency. It might just be me, but the dread this birthday might have given other women in the past hasn't affected me. At the same time, arriving at my forth decade in life does have the weight of some significance. I see it as a kind of emblem to my self confidence, independence, and contentment I have right now in my life. It's funny how just the label of 30 makes me feel like more of a "grownup", yet young and able to be spontaneous.

Because this was such a notable birthday, I decided that I should get out of town and commemorate the occasion in grand style. Going back to Phoenix was the logical choice, considering it was about 40 degrees warmer and I have loved-ones there to celebrate with.

Of course, when I arrived, a visit to Cherry Blossom Noodle Cafe was inevitable. Eating mountains of sushi with my parents was just the homecoming I was hoping for.

The next day the three of us planned to go on a little day trip. Unfortunately, because I sprained my ankle, hiking was out of the question. So, we decided to visit wine country in northern Arizona, an activity that involved either sitting in the car or on a bar stool. I've never been to a winery and I had lots of fun tasting and comparing opinions with my dad (mom was the designated driver). It was beautifully sunny, and we lingered at one vineyard that had a comfy veranda and just enjoyed the radiant day.



The next day it was time to catch up with old friends. After an amazingly scrumptious home-made turkey dinner (my mom's the best!), I headed out to meet up with my friend, Nombi, to watch our other friend, Roxanne, perform in a play. Afterwards we caught up over a couple of beers while sitting out on a restaurant patio, basking in the sunshine. Then I went to hang out with my friend Andy. We went back to one of our regular haunts and then relaxed at his place, reliving old times.

The following day was my actual birthday. My mom and I spent the day doing some shopping and riding the METRO, Phoenix's new light rail.

Then my dad joined us for sushi at Zen 32.



Then I went out to a dueling piano bar called The Big Bang with my friends Nombi, Roxanne, Andy, John and Aaron. We sang and drank and danced, and I got dragged up on stage. We had a grand ol' time.

Flying back to Portland the next day, I realized that it was great to visit sunny Phoenix, but it felt satisfying to be going back to my home in the lush pacific northwest.

30 feels good. I've accomplished a lot, but I still have so much of life to go. The world is open to me, and I'm not afraid to just go out there and experience it.