A good friend of mine is spending his last few hours as a twenty-something year old as I type these words. Right now he's pondering whether or not he'll fall off the edge of the world in his sleep when the clock strikes midnight tonight, and he has already talked to me about his life and where he is in it upon reaching one of the big birthdays. He has a beautiful family, has a good job, is starting his own business and enjoys a multitude of interests. He is in great health and has me as a friend. I know, its disgusting how blessed this kid is and how well he has done so far in his life.
On Day 10,950 of my own life I drove alone to Rimrock to watch the sun set on my twenties. I sat on the rocks looking out over the valley below reflecting on the things I had accomplished, learned and experienced in my twenties. I thought about the things I had done right and the things I had done wrong. I made a vow on the rocks of that hilltop just then that I was going to make my thirties the best damn decade of my life and that I was going to make it look like I'd sat around doing nothing in my twenties. As the sun disappeared and the curtain dropped to mark the end of another day, I hiked back to the car ready to live the next ten years rather than worry about having "lost" the last ten.
I confess to having lost track of that vow a little bit as I've started this decade of my life, but I figure I have plenty of time to get back on track. What better day to renew my vow than on the same evening my good friend is making his own?
Happy Birthday, Tommy!
Now, its time to own this decade.
