So Owl wrote… and this is what he wrote:
HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY.
Pooh looked on admiringly.
“I’m just saying ‘A Happy Birthday’,” said Owl carelessly.
“It’s a nice long one,” said Pooh, very much impressed by it.
“Well, actually, of course, I’m saying ‘A Very Happy Birthday with love from Pooh.’ Naturally it takes a good deal of pencil to say a long thing like that.”
“Oh, I see,” said Pooh.
Today is my 30th birthday and I am super excited!
My dad called last night to wish me a happy birthday (he said he was afraid he’d forget to call today, so he decided to jump the gun). I complained about how I have to spend my birthday evening in my 3D modeling class, and he commented that birthdays aren’t a big deal as adults anyway. But I beg to differ. I know that 30 is supposed to be a sad and depressing birthday or whatever, but honesty I have been looking forward to this since Christmas. I mean, I’m 30!
Think about all the cool things that I’ve been able to do in three decades. I learned to walk, I learned to talk, I went to school, I made friends, I graduated from college, I helped launch some space shuttles, I saw the world… It’s all pretty dang cool, and while the next three decades may not be as dynamic, I expect to do some pretty awesome things in my 30s, 40s, and 50s as well.
Here’s my own retrospective of my first three decades. I don’t have many photos of my elementary and middle school years (probably because I went through the standard hideous teenage girl phase and prefer to block that out of my mind), but I was able to dig up a few.
Here I am as a wee baby in 1978. This looks like it was taken at my house and not in the hospital, so I guess I’m a few days old here at least. But look at my hands! I’m still all wrinkley!
Here I am with my grandparents in their RV at Myrtle Beach. My grandfather died just before I turned 2, so sadly I don’t have any memories of him — just some photos. But my grandmother is still going strong at 93 years old, so it looks like I probably have many, many more years to go.
I’m 5 years old in this photo, and I know that with certainty because I’m pretty sure what I’m holding is either my little sister Katie or my little brother Brian, as an infant right after they came home from the hospital. (I’m probably holding Katie, since I think she came home first.) They were born in 1983.
I don’t know for sure, but I’m probably about 5 years old in this photo as well. That’s one of my childhood best friends, Thomas, in the background. Obviously I was easily amused. Sandbox + water hose = hours of fun.
This is one of the only photos I could find from my elementary and junior high years. It was taken at my family’s dairy farm in Pennsylvania the summer when I was 11 years old. Also in the photo are my sister Katie, cousin Michael, cousin Pam, and brother Brian.
A few years later and here I am during my freshman year of high school. This was actually taken at Epcot Center on the trip that made me want to be an aerospace engineer. I won a trip to Kennedy Space Center after writing a paper about an experiment that could be done on Mars and entering it in a contest. The other two girls were from my high school as well.
Here I am as a high school senior in 1996. I’m sitting in the door of my first car — a hand-me-down (from my mom) 1986 Pontiac station wagon. With wood grain trim and everything. Aw yeah.
Fast forward another 5 years and here I am right smack in the middle of graduating from Georgia Tech. My friend Daniel was taking photos for the college newspaper (for which I was a section editor) and he got this great photo of Becca and me with our diplomas.
And finally, here I am at 27 years old. This was taken on the shore of Lake Tahoe when we all went skiing there just over two years ago. I had been dating Jose for a grand total of 2 months, and I remember being slightly nervous about the prospect of having him along on a big group vacation when I was just really getting to know him.
Obviously things worked out just fine.
Happy 30th Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday!!!
I loved turning 30! I hope you find your 30’s every bit as fun and life changing as you did your 20’s.
Wishing you all the best!
Heehee! It’s that happy apple!! LOVE IT! I’m turning 30 this year too, I’m looking forward to it! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!!!
since I’ll be turning 30 this year, too, I’m glad to see someone else who is truly excited about the big 3-0… have a great day!!!
emily :: theSCOOP
Happy Birthday! I think 30 is perfect age. It’s like being a junior in H.S. or college. Wise enough for living through 2 years of it but senior enough without being a senior. It’s also the decade that brings the biggest change in your life. What with starting a new family and finally settling on a career for the long haul. There is also that home ownership thingy.
I love those pictures Sarah! They’re so cute. And I like your attitude about turning 30 (which will be happening for me not to far in the distant future, of course).
Happy Birthday Sarah! I was excited about 30 as well and at 36, I can tell you that the best is yet to come! To me, the 20s were kind of a “finding myself” time, as cliche as that sounds. But the 30s are so nice – I am much more confident than ever, established in my career, have the hubby and family thing going and definitely much more secure financially. It’s awesome!
I’ll join the chorus, happy birthday!
First off, Happy Birthday!!
Second of all, your 30’s and beyond SHOULD be more dynamic that the before!!! I tell you this much, my life started at 30, and then got even BETTER at 40…I wish I could explain it, but I cant. Its something every woman has to learn on her own, and its been a blast learning! You will learn more about yourself and who you REALLY are in the next 10-12 years.
Have a great day!
Nice run again on Saturday and Happy Birthday!
30? 1997. Wow, Waverly wasn’t even 2 yet. Alright, enough of the flashbacks for me.
I may see you on Saturday, but I’ll be in Austin on Sunday for the Cap 10K. So do well on your quarter Iron on Sunday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH! I love the photo timeline- awesome! I’ll be 30 next year. I hope by the time it gets here I am as excited about it as you are!!
Have a GREAT day!!
Such a cutie throughout!!!
Happy Birthday
love all the pics.