Twenty-eight

I am now twenty-eight.

[dramatic pause]

I am now closer to 30 than 25, though arguably that was true six months ago. It's funny how I don't feel any different than when I was 22, except that I know without a doubt I'm a much different person 6 years later.

I both loathe and welcome growing older. I suppose it's because you can't obtain wisdom without the experience that comes with age. I wouldn't want to be 22 or 25 again though I enjoyed it at the time. I think this year I'm going to start accepting the inevitable 30 that's just around the corner. I kind of have to; there's no way I'm going to accept turning 29 in a year if I haven't made my peace with what comes after that.

It's been a great year, full of both blessings and challenges. My son was born this year and my life has become immeasureably richer. He is a constant and amazing joy. I actually wrote myself an email using "futureme.org":http://www.futureme.org and in it I said something like "How's the baby? I hope he's not pooping as much as you were afraid he would..." (I guess I was really worried about changing diapers a year ago) "... Is he cute?" That actually made me tear up a bit, because I imagined telling my "past me", "You have no idea. Cute doesn't even begin to describe Zachary. Just wait."

That's silly though, imaginary conversations between myself and myself. Still... I think I'll make this futureme email thing a tradition.

Part of being 28 (or more accurately, having to get up ridiculously early) is being exhausted by 9 or 9:30, which I've overshot by well over an hour. Another birthday come and gone, but it's been a good one.