But this year, my birthday suddenly matters. As a wise man recently said, "30 is for women what 40 is for men." A counselor told me last year that most people figure out who they are and who they will be for the rest of their lives, by the time they reach 30. After hearing that, I promptly set out to spend most of my 29th year making as many mistakes as I could and getting them out of the way so that I could start off with a perfect, umblemished life once I hit 30. That's the plan, anyway. ;)
I begin my 30's with many things going right for me. I am starting to like who I see in the mirror every morning now. I see a wife and mother who's at least trying really hard to do a good job. I see a woman with abundance - abundance of offspring (haha), abundance of possibilities and opportunities, and abundance of people who care about her. I am beginning to see glimpses of the woman I wanted to become when I was a child. I'm not quite there yet, but it is encouraging to see that I am at least hobbling my way down the path that is right for me, even if I have tripped and fallen on my face every 5 minutes of the journey. (I was born a klutz.)
To celebrate my 30th birthday, I begged and begged my husband for... a puppy. Yes, this is the man who told me firmly that we would never have a) cats and b) indoor dogs. I mean, I cried about it each time I wanted another pet and he initially said no. Eight years, two cats and two indoor dogs later, it has become obvious that either I have him wrapped around my little finger, or I have superhuman persuasive powers. Perhaps a little of both.
Some of you may recall that last year when I turned 29, I begged for and got...a puppy. So why the heck would I want yet another...puppy?
To be honest, I can't pin one solid reason down. I was turning 30 and simply felt an urgent need for one fluffy cuddly puppy RIGHT NOW DANGIT! Plus, even though our first puppy, Sydney Bristow loves me, she quickly became Kevin's dog - a fact which he still gloats about to this day. I'll admit it...I wanted a dog who would choose ME as it's "person".
So, after talking Kevin into getting me yet another...puppy, I went on a (practically) nationwide search and last week we brought home Samwise Gamgee, also known as Samwise the Brave. We named him thus because he is very hobbit like in general, being of rather...um...diminutive stature and having the shaggy wavy/curly hair usually found on hobbits - but more than that, he has quickly become my faithful, loyal companion, following me everywhere I go like my shadow, just like the character we named him after. As I type this, Samwise is sleeping at my feet.
As I begin the rest of my life, I look around me and see a collection of 3 lovely, darling children, 1 cat (the other ran away, PRAISE THE LORD) and now, not one, but two dogs. It is official. Old age clouds my better judgment. And poor Kevin is already mentally preparing himself for what I'm going to talk him into when I turn 31 next year. Suggestions welcome - for the record, I do think I'm done with puppies and babies, and I'm not really into horses or fancy cars.
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