Almost There...

30.
Thirty.
Three-Zero.

Yup... looks weird no matter how you write it or try to fancy it up.

This Saturday, I will trade one decade for another as I leave 29 behind and do my best to embrace 30.  The only thing that freaks me out a bit is the NUMBER, sounds so... defining.  Beyond that, I can honestly say I am looking forward to my 30's.  Lucky for me... I haven't over-achieved enough in my 20's to feel like my 30's will be dull or uneventful by any stretch of the imagination.  I still have a some major milestones ahead that I'm so ready for... marriage, becoming a homeowner, starting a family... the good stuff, the stuff dreams are made of.  Life isn't a race.  It's something I've learned (not always willingly) along the way.

I find it fitting to reflect a bit, before I enter into a new age bracket.  As a challenge to myself (and my memory) I am going to think of 29 things from my 20's that made it a great decade (in no particular order and by no means all inclusive):

1. Graduating from Michigan State University... Bachelor's Degree in hand, head held high.
2. Living with an awesome true-blue friend for 4 years, she still never fails to make life fun.
3. Getting my first "real" job in local TV news as a videographer for WLNS in Lansing.
4. Traveling to Europe for the first time, flying solo... Madrid, Paris, Barcelona - Amazing. (Thanks Ry)
5. Getting matched with Rakell, through Big Brothers Big Sisters, a match I hope lasts forever.
6. Witnessing my good friend give birth to her first daughter in person... new life is an incredible thing.
7. Realizing that my weight was out of control and turning my health around for the better.
8. Rescuing my cat, Vada, from the local shelter.
9. Taking my career to a new level by giving producing a try. (Thanks HOM-TV)
10. Buying my first vehicle (& second)... and no, I don't name them!
11. Traveling to the deep south, twice, for hurricane-related storm coverage... so shocking to see.
12. Witnessing the marriages of so many beloved friends & in many states:  MI, CA, OH, TN, GA.
13. Realizing the true ups and downs of dating, something I never did in high school.
14. Dining on the 66th floor of the Sears Tower overlooking Chicago, just wow.
15. Getting my first beautiful diamond engagement ring, only to graciously return it one day.
16. Experiencing real Mexico:  Cancun, Cozumel, & Cabo san Lucas (Tijuana doesn't count).
17. Running my first half-marathon with my mom, during our first trip to Disney World!
18. Meeting so many amazing, unforgettable people through school, work, & play.
19. Moving to Grand Blanc to begin a new chapter and my journey with ABC12 in Flint.
20. Buying new bedroom & living room furniture, felt so "adult" to replace a few hand-me-downs.
21. Meeting the man who completes me and makes me long for growing old together.
22. Taking in the beauty that is Michigan's Pictured Rocks coastline, it's breathtaking.
23. Being moved by all that remains at Ground Zero in NYC... words cannot express.
24. Helping that same true-blue friend move to Virginia to begin her own new chapter.
25. Getting over my fear of wine and its snooty reputation... still working on reds, but yum!
26. Asking Tyler to move in with me, as hoped, we've proven to be quite good at this roomie thing.
27. Celebrating my parents and their 25th & 30th wedding anniversaries... I hope to be as lucky ;-)
28. Visiting my Uncle Mike in San Diego... it was great one on one time that I'll never forget.
29. Receiving my first Emmy nomination... :)

So there you have it...
My 20's have actually been quite amazing.
No pressure 30's, but you better be good.