Turning 30

For as long as I can remember, I barked repeatedly at the fact that I was turning 30. It wasn't going to be pretty for me, because I was one of those guys who fought everything about turning 30 and what evils would be bestowed on me. I guess it was the stigma attached to it and that got me all riled up. Turning 30 was not looking good to me at all. All I kept saying to myself was "30 was like 50 in gay years." My reasons for saying that was tied to the fact that I didn't want to get or feel old. If you knew how the gay community gets around getting older, you'd know what I am talking about. We're not revered, we're made fun. "Look at the old mad at the bar." I can hear them all now. So you could imagine my last few weeks before turning 30 were insane for my mental state.

So as the days got closer to the my birthday, I reasoned internally and told myself that I wouldn't let this get to me. I started to plan a party, a big one. One that would make me remember 30 and have good memories surrounding it. I decided to make an entire weekend of it.

My birthday was on a Thursday this year, which oddly enough coincided with the Easter season and specifically on Holy Thursday. I tried to make jokes that day about how I was synonymous with Jesus, but they all just came off being sacrilegious. I had lunch with a friend of mine, who I haven't seen or talked to in awhile and he ended up taking me to lunch that day. Then I met my boyfriend, Ricky at Union Square, where we ended up walking around a little and went to PETCO to get the our dog, Oscar some stuff and then we headed down to SOHO so I can venture a peek at the DC Shoe store. As we headed down there, we saw there were some people waiting outside a building, which had a limo parked outside. We waited 5 minutes in the crowd before we finally found out that Christina Aquilera might be in the building. So I said, okay we can wait, if she's coming out soon. Then it began to snow. (yeah, snow) We didn't want to wait anymore, needless to say she wasn't that important. We got over it very quickly and we headed a few more blocks down to the store where I got some really awesome sneakers. Then we went back home were Ricky made dinner and also made me a cake, which was so sweet of him. He made my night.

Then Friday night I had a Field Trip to the movies to go see Grindhouse. (Click here for a review.) I invited some friends along and we all had a good time. I even got a great birthday gift from Ricky. He got me Guitar Hero 2 for the Xbox 360, which is the greatest thing in the world for me. I love that game! Grindhouse was insanely awesome and anyone into grindhouse flicks or a Tarantino/Rodriquez collaboration then go see this film.

Then Saturday I had a party/dinner at Dave & Buster's Times Square. I was a little worried because alot of people were cancelling on me last minute. Who knew my friends were hardcore Catholic extremist who clearly were following the rules of the Easter season by not going out during this most holy of times. Who knew, but nevertheless the people who I wanted most to come, did arrive and we all had fun playing games, winning tickets and just overall have a great time. I only wanted to be there a few hours, but ended up being there until closing. I had beer and won a bear. I had so much fun that night.

Then Sunday afternoon, my mom and sister came through and my mom cooked dinner actually it was a feast. I had a few more friends over and we all ate and watched Happy Feet. After that I was really exhausted. There was a lot going on that weekend.

So my 30th birthday wasn't as bad as I thought. Nothing bad happened. No mythic Y2K-like disaster happened to me. I just got older. I was still the same person, doing the same things before I turned 30. I didn't learn anything new or suddenly become more wiser than I was. I did make this event memorable and it was good. Now I won't freak out at 35.