...of my 20's.
It's been a wild, unexpected, fulfilling, incredible decade. If you had told 20-year old Jen that she'd be spending her 30th birthday in Maputo, Mozambique as a resident of the Republic of Ghana, I am quite certain she would have laughed so hard that green beer came out her nose. I do love that my birthday is St. Patricks Day, though it is tough to live in an area of the world that has no idea what that is. That said, I've had my fair share of enjoyable green moments over the years starting from when my parents would take me to Bennigan's and tell me that everyone was celebrating my birthday. I later learned this was a hoax and just an easy way to keep me occupied with a claw machine and free XL tshirts while they enjoyed a cold beer or two. Kudos to them for a genius idea.
It's been an eventful decade. I graduated college debt-free, went on study abroad, met my future husband, bought a house, left said house to move to San Francisco, met more amazing people, reunited with old friends. Went to lots of college football games, NFL games, college basketball games, baseball games, hockey games. Went on numerous college football roadtrips with some of my best friends in the whole world. Slept outside countless nights through rain and hurricane force winds to sit front row, midcourt for four years of college basketball games. Witnessed 4 Florida Gator national championships, a Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup, 2 (should have been 3) Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowls and 3 San Francisco Giants World Series. Went to a MLB All Star Game and a Final Four. Traveled to about 20 countries around the world with school, family and/or my husband.
I started college as an incredibly picky eater. Now I'm willing to explore food options and developed a palate for red wine. I suppose much of this was kindled by the foodie population of San Francisco and its proximity to some of the best wine in the world. It also doesn't hurt that now I get menus written in Portuguese so sometimes "winging it" is the only option.
I met, was wooed by, moved across the US for, said yes to, and married my best friend. I celebrated with many of our friends as they did the same. I've laughed and cried and laughed til I cried and loved and lost and all the other feelings that go into 10 years of your life.
I have been beyond blessed with what I have accomplished, experienced, felt, tasted, photographed, etc in my 30 years of life. I certainly don't take it for granted. As weird as it is to be halfway around the world from my home country, it feels like it's exactly where I'm meant to be as I step into a new decade.
Here's to all the new adventures that my 30's bring and to Dan for being my partner in crime and the one who keeps me grounded as I continue to "type A" myself through life. Thanks for being by my side as my other, more relaxed half. Oh, and thanks for letting me beat you in fantasy football. That always helps too.
One more weekend til 30... Bring it on.
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