I find it hard to believe that today marks my thirty-fourth birthday, it just doesn’t seem possible. Trust me, I felt the same way four years ago when I hit that dreaded 30 mark, which really doesn’t seem so bad in hindsight. Where in creation did those four years go? Talk about time flying by.
What’s truly surprising, however, are the countless technological and social changes which have taken place during my three-plus decades here on planet Earth, from the obvious – cell phones, laptops, global positioning systems (a good friend has one which mimics Yoda) and digital, well, everything – to the absolutely ridiculous – Justin Bieber fans, Sarah Palin for president and retail stores stocking the shelves for Christmas in September all spring immediately to mind.
Even more comical are the numerous fads and fashions which, somehow, make a resurgence every 20 to 30 years. I mean, bellbottoms, lava lamps and a good old tie-dye T-shirt are all OK with me, at least they were when I attended Ithaca College 16 years ago. Then again, whoever thought it was a good idea to bring back this skinny-jean obsession (not to mention those fluffy moon-boot looking deals the girls all seem to like) should be dragged into the street and shot. Do the people sporting these atrocities have any idea how laughable they really look? You’d sooner see me running down South Broad Street in a fluorescent yellow jumpsuit waving a big sign that read “Here For the Free Homefries,” another fad I haven’t enjoyed since my college days, than catch me trying to squeeze my 34-year-old behind in a pair of those skinny jeans.
I suppose there’s simply no getting around it, I’m getting older. And while I realize this not-so-minor inconvenience catches up with all of us in the end, I guess I never realized it would catch up to me so damn soon. I certainly never thought I’d be sitting here, writing a column for our hometown daily newspaper and living the single life in my tiny little apartment. I’m not complaining though – even as the surprises life continues to throw at me pile up – I’ve actually got it pretty good.
I’ve got my friends, family, co-workers and esteemed editor to keep me grounded, something I avoided for far too long. I’ve got my health (knock on wood), a great job and a number of musical companions who keep me on my toes whenever I get a chance to strap on the old guitar. I even have that fluorescent yellow jumpsuit kicking around somewhere if the mood were to strike me (and yes, I’m kidding ... or am I?).
That’s not to say there aren’t things I’d like to see happen before I get any closer to 40, let’s be honest. A family of my own (someday) would be nice (I think). I know that would make my poor mother happy, at least. What can I say, she lovingly threatens me over her lack of grandchildren on a fairly regular basis.
On a lighter note, I’d really love to try skydiving someday (that jumpsuit would come in handy then, now wouldn’t it?), write a book, add to my guitar collection (or lack thereof) and buy an honest-to-God new car (just for that new-car smell). The funny thing is, none of those desires seem nearly as impossible to me as they once did, which I find interesting.
I guess it’s true that age really does bring wisdom, or at least some semblance of it. I can remember a time, not so long ago, when I honestly wondered if I would make it to 32, as sad as that is. So yes, I’d definitely say that wisdom does come with age, as does change. We can’t predict it, or really prepare for it when it catches up to us, we can only roll with the punches and do our best to see it through.
I’m fairly confident that life hasn’t finished throwing the occasional curve ball my way and I don’t think I’d like it to. Those surprises, that uncertainty (and coping with it), are what life is all about. I’m not sure why it took me 34 years to realize that and maybe it’s something I knew all along – I simply never understood it or admitted it to myself. But there you have it and here I am, thirty-four and counting.

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