… or whatever.
I was digging through an old spiral notebook today, searching for unused lined paper, when I found a sheet on which I had tracked personal going-on’s for past birthdays in a manner similar only to archaic library catalogues. Handwritten. Yellowed paper. Saved as reference.
20 was spent lounging, daiquiri in hand, by a pool off the coast of Mexico.
21, drunk in Las Vegas, encouraging strange men to buy me drinks and forcing my sister to be my designated driver.
22, at my parents’ house in Tustin, abnormally thin and suffering from a broken heart.
23, indoors during a rainy Taiwan spring, receiving the largest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever gotten.
24, revelling in the most beautiful part of China, letting everyone think my friend was my husband just because we shared hotel rooms.
25, in someone’s bathroom in Manhattan, sobbing because my grandfather had just gotten diagnosed with terminal cancer.
26, training in San Francisco for the half-marathon race that I completed 2 weeks later.
27? My god, that’s coming up fast.
I wonder if 27 should be the year I find myself in an authentic, loving relationship. Fully recovered from what I was almost led to believe would be an insurmountable heartache at 22, I speak with more reservation, I write with less conviction, and I run when I should stay.
And damn if I’m not ready for something else.
In a few months, maybe I’ll find myself engaging in romantic relationships where longevity is an actual possibility. Or maybe I’ll just keep dating the hell out of this city until it cries uncle and refuses to see me. I mean, I need something with which to occupy my time (lord knows I can’t find a job to save my life).
What a great list and list concept, Juli. Hang onto that!
Here’s to 27.
Thanks Hal! :D
That’s cool you kept all that! Loved this line: “Or maybe I’ll just keep dating the hell out of this city until it cries uncle and refuses to see me.”
Thanks Carlo! I figure, if I can’t have quality, then I sure as hell will make up for it with quantity ha.
Ah, 27…that’s just about the time Saturn returns hits. Hold on to your pants! It’s a bumpy (but amazing) ride from here til about 33 (and I’m only 31, so I’m still in it).
hmmm… sounds exciting ;) I wonder how I’ll be once I get out on the other end!
Hey,
That’s a good list. I do that stuff too. I just got back from 4.5 years in Thailand and was reading your blog on culture shock, that was a nice peace.
I have a list like that but it’s more for years rather than just birthdays and begins around 25 because up until then I hadn’t even started living.
25th Birthday ‘Great Wall of China’ 26th Charity Fundraising, 27th Chengdu China, 28th Muay Thai Boxing Thailand, 29th moved to Thailand.
Welcome back Paul! Four and a half years is a long time, and I’m sure it’s taking some getting used to being back in the States. Hopefully the ride’s not too bumpy. (:
And thanks for sharing your list– I think I just like keeping track of such things and having physical documentation makes me feel somewhat more fulfilled and less able to forget how much a blessing life can be. It doesn’t really have to center around birthdays (personally, I get struck with the typical “one year older” panic so that’s what gets me to break out the list/ do something ha). Can you believe I STILL have not visited the Great Wall? I love your list (I LOVE CHENGDU) and one day, some of the things you did will be on my list too.
Howdy!
I came across your stuff on matadornetwork and thought I’d check out the blog. Interesting stuff. So since this was posted a year ago, what happened at 27?
I started an online business when I was 28 (32 now) and had you asked the 27 year old version of me what I would be doing at 32, I probably would have talked about playing with cars and home theater stuff. Haha, totally not accurate. I find myself in China now, managing the online business remotely (i luv eCommerce) and trying to live the REAL life of a Chinese guy in China as opposed to being an ABC in the US.
You really never know where life is going to take you so let love take care of itself and follow your passions. Along the way, you’re bound to meet that special someone with similar interests!
Cheers!
c.
Hi Clifford, thanks for reading and commenting! Turns out, 27 was the year for love for me, and I’m really happy I was able to open myself up for the possibility and inclusion of it in my life.
Off to check out your blog now! I’m interested to hear your experiences in China. (: