Belated anniversary post

I titled this one 'Belated anniversary post' because I figure it has been more than a year since I began writing this blog. But I'm not a big fan of newspaper columnists who mark their columns with anniversary musings. I guess I'm conflicted of all things about writing or titling this piece.

I wanted to create a list of 31 things I loved about being in my 30s to post in this space, but I didn't. I thought about doing a reflection piece to take my readers back to where I was a year ago, but I opted not to spend 500 words or so doing that.

And then this morning over a breakfast of Jasmine Green tea, oatmeal and bananas the thought came to me - birthdays in my 30s. Ok, so I have not had that many but stick with the theme for now.

Last year my birthday was spent walking into orientation at the School of Theology and Ministry. We were treated to a light breakfast, faculty/staff introductions and then we were divided into smaller groups to talk about our programs and ourselves. Throughout the day I was receiving text messages and voice mails from folks out West. It was an overwhelming feeling kicking off a new decade and synthesizing all that needed to be accomplished academically in the next two years. Dinner that night was a simple celebration.

And this year my birthday was spent hauling boxes up and down stairs and then trying to downsize after a year of living on the East Coast. I moved into a new place that was closer to school and smaller than the house I was living in previously. Dinner and dessert this year were another simple celebration.

There is all this new energy being pumped into the earlier part of my 30s and it has been enjoyable thus far. The last few birthdays of my 20s were spent with friends at local establishments in California or at a park when my relatives through a gigantic end-of-summer picnic and birthday celebration.

But my 25th birthday was spent here in Boston - with my friend Melissa. It was a whirlwind weekend of seeing the town, meeting her friends and then wondering if I'd ever end up out here.

And now I'm here and she's decided to move on a few hours south of me. Even though it sounds kind of uninteresting to celebrate one milestone birthday at a student orientation and another one moving into a new place, these will probably become among the most memorable.

These were not extravagant birthdays by any stretch. They were simple celebrations of life and change that can only be marked by a late summer birthday.

Awh, heck if I were not so lazy I think I might scroll up to the top and re-title this, 'simple yet memorable.'