I turned 30 and have lived to tell about it. I’m not exactly sure what I expected to happen, but the world didn’t end. My KISA decided to throw me a surprise birthday party. One thing to know about me is that growing up my parents had to hide my Christmas gifts because if they were in the house I would not only find them, but I would remove the tape, unwrap them to see what I got, and then wrap it back up. And this was maybe when I was eight. (I had a calling to be a PI very young in life.) For him to pull off a surprise birthday party is quite a feat. He diligently planned the party, ordered a table and chairs for the rooftop, hung Christmas lights around the railing, got a keg and food, and also some glow sticks, necklaces, and balloons.

My boss had offered for me to work from home on my birthday, so I took it, not knowing we’d be hosting a party that evening (thank goodness I’d done the laundry and put some of my things away). I was working away when around lunchtime a lady buzzed up to the apartment and had such a strong accent that I couldn’t understand what she was saying, just that she kept referencing my KISA’s name. Me, hoping maybe he’d gotten flowers delivered to the apartment, ran downstairs to figure out what she was saying and if she had a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me. Instead she had a piece of paper. I finally understood that she was trying to deliver a table and chairs for my KISA and wanted to know where to put them. Confused, I gave her his cell phone number and ran back upstairs. Of course I texted him right away, fishing to figure out what was going on. I asked if we were expecting company and at first he played dumb. He admitted that he was throwing me a birthday party on the roof and asked if I could let the lady in to set up on the roof. Of course I was giddy about the prospect of having a party, but he was really upset that they decided to deliver things five hours early and ruined the surprise.

The night was really fabulous! It got cold on the roof, so after a couple hours we took the party back down to our apartment. We had a bunch of our friends come over as well as some of his new work friends he’d invited. All in all, I have to say that I’m really impressed that he almost surprised me.

Tomorrow is the big 3-0. What are my big plans for the day, you ask. My boss told me to work from home since no one in our department will be in the office. That kind of excited me because now I can get a jump start on the laundry. I may treat myself to a pedicure. I was going to make chicken and dumplings, but my KISA tonight generously offered to take me out for dinner (what a gentleman). I guess this is what life becomes when you get old.

Bill Gates has a famous quote, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” I’m the type of girl that sets goals and has New Year’s resolutions, so I used this as inspiration in deciding what I want to do with my life in the next 10 years.

1. Learn how to worry less about things that don’t matter.
2. Have a better relationship with my father.
3. Settle down (not settle).
4. Run a full marathon.
5. Travel to Antarctica.
6. Be in the best shape of my life.
7. Meet my children.
8. Stop trying to make others happy.
9. Learn self-control with food, especially sweets.
10. Finally do a damn pull-up.