9.06.2007

Paying My Respects

My Dear 20's, Now that our journey together has come to an end, I'd like to thank you for the past 9 years of service. To thank you for the beautiful memories of giving birth to my precious daughter, buying my first home and my first really new car, earning a college degree and then another and then another. Of marrying a husband and divorcing him before marrying another husband and divorcing him, too, which has given me some deep insight into my own faults and my own strengths. Thank you for teaching me about the simple joys of a handwritten letter, of extra-thick carpet padding, of a homegrown tomato, of a balanced household budget, and of a really decent crossword puzzle book. Many thanks for the flawless complexion and extreme flexibility, and for being unashamed when I blamed my irresponsible actions on you (though I do wish you would have prohibited the tattoos). I am grateful to you for understanding that the person I was hoping to become had to break through the shell of the person I was pretending to be, and for knowing all along that I would come of age in a beautiful manner. I thank you for a career of which I'm very proud, for friends who overlook my sarcasm and embrace my quirkiness, for creativity I didn't even know existed inside me. Most deeply, I thank you for saving me from the end of my teens - those last two years almost certainly killed me, and I truly believe I would have died had it not been for my daughter. My precious daughter. The sweetest piece of my soul that came at the onset of my 20's. However did you know that she would change me in so many ways? My gratitude is deeper than the oceans and my love for you, sweet 20's, will never fade. However, it's time for us to part ways, as I have a date with my 30's. A date with fuller hips and many more laugh lines, with greater wisdom and fewer hangovers. With a woman who will undoubtedly surprise and delight me. With a woman who will take more risks, but make fewer bad decisions. With a woman who will enjoy the next nine years and secretly long to peek over the fence into the backyard of the 40's because she'll understand that aging is one of life's most beautiful experiences. And so I bequeath you to some other young, nimble, naive woman who is trying to figure out her purpose in this world. Please give her my love and let her know that she'll come out fine on the other side. I wish I could meet her, but it's time for me to move on. With love and gratitude, Mary Ann

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

you are such an amazing writer. i love this. happy day before your birthday friend.

Anonymous said...

ACK! I almost missed another bloggy friend's birthday! :I

I loved your post! :) *HUGS* I didn't realize you were so much younger than me... I'm a ripe ol' 35! :D

Happy happy happy birthday!!!!

Roxanne said...

Happy Birthday my dear! Your letter really had me thinking. i'm not too far behind you in birthdays and I thought I would dread the big 3-0. But maybe not...lots of good points here.

P.S. Even though I started your birthday gift a long time ago, it will of course be late. I'm encouraging the birthday season thing Vallen had going on last month!! Hope you have a great one!

eviedee said...

Happy Birthday!! This is the loveliest thing that I have read in quite a while. Thank you.

Erin Earls said...

Happy Birthday Mary Ann. That was a beautiful letter!
Erin~

maggiegracecreates said...

LOVING THIS LETTER. 30 WAS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME AT ALL. LIKE ROXANNE YOUR GIFT WILL BE LATE-I KEEP ADDING TO IT. 40 WAS NOT EVEN A PROBLEM FOR ME.HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU.

Vallen said...

A very, very merry decade darling!!!!

Sarah said...

Beautiful! Like Roxanne, it makes me want to be 30 as well! :o)

You have such grace, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

And hear, hear on the birthday season suggestion! :o) My present to you needs a few more tweakings...

Dana said...

Happy 30th Mary Ann :) The best years are yet to come!



Here's to many more!


Dana
d07@goldingers.com

elizabeth said...

happy, happy birthday girl.

i love ya tons :) and don't feel bad, i'll be joining ya soon enough :)

Tanya said...

I love you.....T.

Deirdre said...

What a fantastic post.

Sallie - AKA *Sparky* said...

Well Happy Birthday, Mary Ann!!! I loved reading your post - brilliantly written! Just keep focusing on the good, like your complexion and your amazing flexibility! On my 30th birthday, I remember crying and then explained why to my 2 yr old son: "Mommy's thirty" and he smiled real big and said, "Mommy's Pretty!" That stopped my tears right there!

Jennifer W. said...

What a great post! Happy Birthday to you!

Raesha D said...

What a fabulous post:) I'm looking forward to what your 30's bring to you:)

Renee said...

That is just the lovelest thing you are such a talented writer! Thanks for sharing that with us and on to the fabulous 30's I have a feeling they will be rockin for you! Happy Birthday M!