alexinwords.com

by Alex Russell

Turning 30 marks the end to early youth. It’s a moment to take a step back and think seriously about the future coming faster into focus. Turning 30 feels like a step away from the freedom of the 20s. It marks an earnest if unwilling entry into adulthood, a moment to look around, maybe for the first time, and see just where everyone else is at 30 and what they have accomplished—maybe see for the first time how far you are behind them. Or instead a chance to assert once more no ageing at all has happened since turning 21.

I don’t think people these days put very much stock in turning 30. It seems the 30s are a lot like the 20s, with all the same activity and fun, but with more money to spend—and no roommates. People in their 30s seem the same as they were in their 20s, just with designer clothes and mixed-drink doubles replacing PBR and Bud.

Not to get too personal—tomorrow is my 30th birthday, after all—but for me it’s not that big a deal. I’ve always been treated like I was older anyway. When I was 18, people mistook me for being in my mid-twenties. When I met my future wife’s mother at the ripe age of 20, my full beard and courtesy convinced her I was well into my 30s.

Healthwise, I’m in the best shape of my life because of habits I started well before I ever thought about turning 30. A few years ago I got my first grey hairs, an undeniable fact of getting older, but they’re the worst of age’s ravages and are taking their time in spreading. My career isn’t as established as I’d like, but I’ve seen and done enough interesting stuff over the past 10 years to make it worthwhile. I love my wife and my home. I’ve got solid relationships with good people, both family and friends. I’ve raised two well-adjusted dogs, and blindly hope raising kids will be just as easy. In many ways I’m ahead, and as I take stock of my life this last day in my 20s, I can smile both for where I’ve been and where I’m going.

So now I come to the giving of presents, essential in any discussion about turning 30. For convenience and simplicity I’ve listed some suggestions below in no particular order. These are all things I truly want, of course, but who will give them to me remains to be seen. My contact information is on my bio page if anyone is so inclined.

• Balloon Depot hot air balloon flight
• Tesla Model S
• Writing lessons from Philip Roth
• Dell XPS M1730 laptop
• HP Home Cinema Digital Projector EP7120
• All the lattes I can drink at Vivace
• Steinway D-274 concert grand piano
• Piano lessons from Bert Bacharach
• Riu Paradise Island Bahamas vacation package
• Nikon D300 Digital SLR
• Dwight Gooden autographed baseball
• Two tickets to a 49ers Superbowl game (for my cousin Chris and I)
• Boxing lessons from Oscar De La Hoya (since he’s retired and all)
• A damn good doctor
• Bottle of Le Billionaire Champagne (just to see if it lives up to the hype)
• A damn good doctor
• No snow this winter in Seattle (if not possible I will accept a winter home in Santa Cruz)