>Turning 30

>Today was Tony’s 30th birthday. I asked him today how it felt, and he explained, “Turning 30 is no big deal, except for the fact that another year has gone… what did I just say? And so has my mind. It’s just another birthday, just another number. I’m further away from using immaturity as an excuse to get out of housework, especially cooking popcorn.”

But despite this being, “Just another birthday”, I wanted to make sure we celebrated it well, since he’ll only turn 30 once. On Saturday night we went out to dinner at Arin Krin, also known as “The Garlic Restaurant”, with some friends from Tony’s unit and their families. Everything on the menu had garlic incorporated into the menu in some shape or form, and I think it’s my new favorite place to eat. The meals were served tapas style, or as appetizers, so we all ordered a bunch of different dishes and passed them around for everyone to try. I must have tried ten different items from the menu, and loved each one. We’ll be going back there again, for certain. Somehow all the wives were the designated drivers for the evening, so the men ordered cold sake. This was Tony’s first taste, and he said it was very smooth, like a mixture between vodka and sambuca. All I know is, he drank a whole bottle himself, supposedly with no hangover the next morning.

Then today, I made him a big breakfast: blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, a fresh fruit platter with kiwi, grapes, and banana, and coffee and orange juice. For lunch we visited the bowling alley for a couple games as a family.

As you can see, Tony’s pretty good, Bear’s not bad (because she uses bumpers AND a guide), but I’m pretty pathetic. I’ve got some work to do, but since this is a very affordable family activity, I’ll have lots of opportunities to practice.

Afterward Tony dropped Bear and I off at the house while he and Bug did some Christmas shopping. Bear and I took the opportunity to make him a birthday cake, which he loved. I think mostly because I’m not much of a baker, but this turned out pretty well.

For dinner he had requested a porterhouse steak, twice-baked potatoes, and a salad, so that’s what I made him. Then for dessert was his yellow cake with chocolate frosting, with sliced strawberries and Cool Whip in between the layers. He told us that his cake was the best part of his day, and it was exactly what he’s pictured when he made the request. Well, the cake, anyway. Not all the candles.

I think, all in all, he had a good birthday. Bear had been psyching him out a bit, I think, with all her talk of “Thirty is almost the last number on earth, and I don’t want you to die”, but I think he’s begun realizing that despite the fact that we’re in our fourth major assignment and have definitely aged in the past seven years, we’re still one of the youngest couples in the unit. I know at some point that will change – that we’ll no longer be the babies of the group, but I think he realized last night, when one of our friends said, “Hey, I could be your father! I’ve got a 28-year-old son!” and the others were comparing their 30th birthdays from years – and decades – past, that turning 30 doesn’t mean he’s old. Yet. It’s just a different box to check on government forms.

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