i had visions of what this would be.

most people i know, their milestone is 30. for me it was different, late bloomer that i am.

but 35 played me for a loop.

but what a birthday dinner i had. the house threw me a great dinner, and although i am not vegan, we had a (mostly) vegan dinner. beautiful exquisite salads. fajitas. soups. tortillas. wine wine and more wine (thank you shane-c). a vegan chocolate cake. a most definitely not vegan mud pie. and incredible cookies from new friend-of-the-house leia, fresh on american soil from italy.

dinner was boisterous. rowdy. lively. yummy.

before the dishes were done, the tables were hauled outside and chairs pushed to to the side for zydeco dancing to beau jocques (my favorite) ending with some mexican electronica and quasi dirty dancing. more like flirty dancing. we were suffiently sweaty, smiling, and happy.

or at least i was.

it was great. i felt very loved.

we ended it all with before-bed viewing of sex&thecity. and last sips of wine.

other great parts of my birthday: great calls from friends (i love you guys. i am so blessed with friends!). my desk/work area suffiently TPd and all work toys gathered on my desk. an amazing lunch with 18 people from work (thanks carrie). and a three-hour massage from ernie, the greatest massage therapist on the central coast.

and then there was my beautiful mother. god i love her. who got teary-eyed on the phone with me.

you know, when my mom was my age i was going on 16. how could that be? i had the youngest looking mom in town. i still do. she is great. ;) my dad is great too. i have amazing parents. ;) god i'm lucky.

while dancing, i seemed to flash on the best dances of my life. sweaty twirly beat-y slammy dances pre-25.

i like getting older. genuinely. like it. yes. i'm here. okay. let's go forward.

and here i am. mid-thirties. midfucking30s ohmigod, like who would have ever thought it would happen. and i'm surrounded by these people that i can't believe my good fortune to know. sweethearts. passionate. sincere. funny. wild. unabashed. untarnished. yet tender.

and there is still more. real stuff. meaningful stuff. and stuff that will hopefully get me to not be so unceremoniously sentimental. :)

xom.