A Bride Looks at 30

To be fair, the whole "bride" thing has kind of eclipsed the "30" thing. It definitely requires a lot more prep work. To turn 30, basically all I had to do was wake up this morning (or rather, wait until 8:45 tonight, which is when I was born).

It's also been kind of hard to freak out about turning 30 because of the bride thing. How can I possibly dread the age at which I accomplish one of my three most important life goals, to be a wife? Which kind of makes me think - it isn't aging itself that we fear. It's the passing of time without doing anything of importance, or at least of importance to US.

I've wanted to be a wife and a mother for as long as I can remember. It just makes sense to me. Everyone talks about how fantastic your 20s are, but for the most part they seemed kind of empty to me. I have no aspirations to be a "career girl." Work in the typical sense has been just a means to an end for me. I've had no problem doing it to support myself, but wifehood and motherhood are the careers I truly want. My 30s are going to be the time when I finally get those "promotions" I've been waiting and wishing for. I finally feel like I'm getting closer to my calling.

Don't misunderstand - that's not to say my past 30 trips around the sun have been worthless. There have been some hard times but some amazing ones, too. See below for the countdown shortlist of some of my favorite things.

30 By the Numbers

30 different beers I tried during the month of January 2014.
29: pairs of shoes I currently own (okay, more like 59, but I'm not that old yet)
28: pounds Luna thinks she weighs. Also, the number of times she licks me per minute (roughly).
27: the age at which my first book was published
26: the average dollar amount I spend per visit to Trader Joe's (YUM!)
25: minutes I can ride in a car before I fall asleep
24: the age at which I bought my own condo (which will be mine and B's first family home!)
23: the age at which I helped throw my mom an awesome surprise 50th birthday party
22 years (almost 23) I got to spend with my Mimi
21: the age at which I absolutely kicked ass in Media Law (an A-minus!)
20 miles round-trip to TR and back on the Swamp Rabbit Trail - my favorite exercise.
19 dollars for my favorite wine, La Crema Pinot Noir, at Costco
18: the age in which I met my two best friends, college roommates & Phi Beta Chi sisters
17 NEW books I read in 2013 (not re-reads)
16 times I've watched Love Actually, my second-favorite movie (first is Casablanca)
15 awesome in-laws I've gotten to know
14 days we fostered Luna in January 2013
13 (or '13): the year I said "YES!" to the man of my dreams
12 baby blankets I've crocheted for various friends' kids
11 visits to Seabrook Island and/or Charleston, the most beautiful places on earth
10 cups of coffee per week to maintain this sparkling personality you all know and love
9 days spent in France with my B in 2011
8 times I've read the Harry Potter series
7 seasons of Gilmore Girls I've watched with my mom
6 trips to NYC, my favorite city on earth
5 weeks spent studying abroad in Florence, Italy, in 2004
4 unbelievably great years at Chapel Hill
3 wonderful immediate family members
2 times cheering in the Dean Dome for my high school's girls basketball team
1 amazing fiance
0 regrets