My life at 29 years, 366 days

I have an extra day to enjoy my 20s due to the leap year.

… I spent day 365 of year 29 doing things a twentysomething person would do. I bought a pair of Air Jordans, my first pair ever, and ordered a Double King from Fatburger (that’s a pound of meat folks. HAWGH!). I figured no 30-year-old or older would buy Jordans and as for the Double King, that is best to be done before your 30. Incidentally, I came up with the slogan for the Double King, “The Double King Burger from Fatburger, because not everyone lives to their 70s.”

… As I sit here and write this, I can only look back and reflect on what is called “My Life.” I wonder sometimes if my life is that demotivational poster “Mistakes: It could be your purpose in life to serve as a warning to others.” I think it comes from the fact that I’ve always done things the hard way. Either, there is no way I should have done a lot of things I did or should have used better sense, but I did it anyway. For example: play high school football, be a Giants fan in Dodgers country, run a marathon, pick a profession in college that will probably be dead in 10 years.

But in each case, it made me the person I am today, hopefully for the better.

I have my health, and if it came down to it, I’m glad. I’ve been trying to get in better shape – sans the Double King – recently. I’m actually up to running now and for the first time in a long time, ran a mile in under 10 minutes. Now, I know this may not sound like a big deal, but when I started less than two months ago, I couldn’t get under 12 minutes. In case you are wondering, in high school I was able to run a mile around 5 and a half minutes. I think I can do a better time, but my running has been hampered by pain in my ankles, they actually feel like high ankle sprains and they burn. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact when I ran on the beach at first and it was at an angle. My ankles couldn’t take it and I haven’t rested them since I started.

I have my family. Everyone is fine, even though my dad has cancer but he’s a fighter. All my siblings are in a marriage – no divorces (7 out of 7) – and there are a total of 13 healthy children that call me uncle and are happy to see me.

I have friends. I don’t think I could’ve ever asked for a better group of friends. I know I’ve leaned on them more than I would have liked in the past two years and am so grateful that they are there. Everyone brings something different and that is what I love about all of them. There are different views, believes that it gives me plenty to think about and helps me look at all sides. Basically, “Don’t surround yourself with yourself.” Bonus points if you can identify that song.

I have a job. Unfortunately, it’s not as great as it once was. Someone asked if work was getting better. I told him, “I’m getting used to it.” He replied, “So it’s getting better.” I said, “Nope, there is a difference.” A friend from my last job said he knew it was getting bad when he was reading Dilbert and he was starting to get it. For me, the line from the movie Office Space: “It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care.” is hitting home for me. I used to care more, but since bad deadlines are being pushed (10 p.m. first edition for sports is a joke since late results never get in and they gutted the P-T sports department) I’ve been finding ways to cut all the corners I possibly can. We miss deadline, but not by much. Some are saying that I’m thinking smarter; I reply by saying I just don’t care but it is funny how the two go hand and hand sometimes.

As for love, I’m on the outs with Cupid. In fact, the only thing about my life that is in a recession is that. A website said if you looked for someone like you looked for work, then you should have no problems. Well, apparently no one is hiring. Maybe I’m trying too hard. So, I think for now I’ll take the advice from The Supremes and won’t hurry love. When it happens, it happens. I think it will be more like my anyway.

… Tomorrow, I start Year 30, Day 1. I work, as usual, but will have lunch with a college friend as my only celebration. Wednesday starts the “fun” when I have a day party with friends and have dinner with my family that night.

I also wonder: is 30 just a number or will it change me?