My Twenties
I'm a sucker for those "year in review" shows that pop up every December. So while I was in the shower last night, I spent a lot of time thinking about my decade in review. My twenties were every bit as transitional as my teens; a lot of major stuff happened in my life. I got married (24), became a dad (27), graduated from college (22) (ha, I'm just kidding about that college thing - nobody cares about that anymore), and got my first full-time job (22).
Other notable moments include buying a house (26), buying an iBook (25), and starting this blog (27). I got my first digital camera (21), met a guy worth $750 million (25), and went to my first PGA tour event, where I got to see Tiger Woods (26). He's so dreamy! While we're talking golf, I shot my career low score of 81 (24), I had my USGA handicap index down to 11.2 (25), and I played a course outside of Ocala, Florida that had amazing replica holes from several famous courses (20), and got Natalie Gulbis' autograph (23).
I ran my first 5k race and ate my first McGriddle (25). I was part of the second largest crowd to ever watch a game at Beaver Stadium - 109,313 (24). That was exactly two weeks before I got married, and exactly 10 days before I watched the twin towers fall (24). That was an action-packed few weeks. I said "please stop putting that pasta in your hair" for the first time (29), I held a live snake (23), I joined my first ice hockey league (22), and I got my first big promotion (28). I became an uncle for the first (23) and second (28) time. I shook hands with former President Clinton (28), got subpoenaed and testified in a criminal trial (26), and learned the tango (24). I bought an iPod (27) and got a tattoo (22). Gotcha! No tattoos. Just checking to see if you're still with me.
I got my first "press pass" for a major sporting event (24). My second press pass was for the first - and only - NFL game I've attended (25). I tried sushi (26), calamari (28), and Special K Protein Water (29) for the first time. I started sporting facial hair (28), got published (29), had someone ask me who I hire for lawn service (27), and made my first trip to Vegas (26). I chickened out of going to my 10 year high school reunion (28). I watched almost 10 straight hours of TV coverage on December 31, 1999 (22) and went on my first business trip (27). Seriously mom, I don't have any tattoos.
All that, and I made it the entire decade without getting a speeding ticket. (Though I guess I still have to drive to and from work today, so I should maybe keep that a little quieter.) I've decided - primarily because I don't want to die and that's the only other alternative - that I'm ready to be 30.
On a side note, I just found out that Sarah Michelle Gellar and I were born on the same day, in the same city. Sarah, if you're reading this, give me a call and say hi! I mean, sure, the first half of Cruel Intentions is the only thing I've ever seen with you in it, but who cares? We're birthday buddies!



Comments
cadiz12 said:
a very hearty happy birthday to both you and buffy tomorrow. you two kick some major booty.
what's on tap for the upcoming decade?
Adam Backstrom
said:
Happy Birthday, Omar. This live comment preview is pretty nifty testing. Anyway, what's this about a criminal case?
Nadia said:
Now now, Omar. One mustn't be ashamed of one's bodily demarcations. We both know about that rose tattoo that's sitting oh-so-sexily on your hip, and really, isn't it about time you showed some pride in it? Damn straight.
Your twenties sound momentous, I hope mine are half as eventful. Here's to thirty being even more rockin'. Happy birthday, Omar!
Radioactive Jam said:
Things just keep getting better.
At least until stuff starts falling off. But I don't know anything about that.
Happy birthday, you punk kid!
Jonathan said:
Happy Birthday Omar!
Becky said:
i'd call you up and sing to you, but that would be stalker-ish. so here goes:
happy birthday to you!
happy birthday to you!
happy birthday, dear oooooooomarrrrr!
happy birthday to you!
and many more on channel four
and scooby doo on channel two
and frankenstein on channel nine
and a big fat lady on channel eighty
Becky said:
and i have two tattoos (both pre-dating my twenties) - so what are you saying?
jasmine said:
your memory is surreal.
i don't remember anything from my 20's and i'm only 26.
eek.
make it a good one anyhow!!!
Sarah said:
Happy Birthday!
Welcome to my age bracket [30 - 34]!
elasticwaistbandlady said:
Add an official soundtrack for your 20's, omar. Let us know you're official makeout song. Your blog inspiration music. Songs that get played and you like but are too embarrassed to tell someone the title of. Like, "I'll Make Love To You," or "Bootylicious."
X said:
Hey, happy birthday! I'm celebrating one year with the girlfriend today. We're going for a picnic. I'll be sure to eat a doughnut in your honour.
---X
wendela said:
What an amazing memory. Enjoy it while it lasts.
You're the only straight guy I know that can get away with saying Tiger Woods is so dreamy, by the way.
Enjoy your 30th birthday!
Zoe said:
happy birthday my older cousin. i'll keep living and enjoying the twenties for you - you may now live vicariously through me. enjoy the day
love you
elasticwaistbandlady said:
Somebody's having a birthday......
Happy Birthday Omar my favorite blog feind in the whole wide world!
Here's What I Got For You!
Toni said:
elasticwaistbandlady said to come tell you happy, happy birthday! Welcome to the 30's with the rest of us. it sucks some.
No Cool Story said:
How does it feel to be so young Omar?
Feliz cumpleaños a ti,
Feliz cumpleaños a ti,
Feliz cumpleaños Omar,
Que los cumplas feliz.
Tan-tan!
PS: And what Toni said.
CarrotJello said:
Happy birthday. Here's a basketball, and 20 t.v.s so you don't miss a game.
I said:
cadiz - Thanks! Planned activities for my 30's include lawn care, a couple of prostate exams, and making fun of 20-somethings.
Adam - Thanks! The live comment preview lies. The preview window itself will render almost all HTML, but Movable Type will strip most of it out when you actually post the comment. As for the criminal case, I'd tell you, but I'm holding out for a book deal.
Nadia - SHHHHHHH!! And thanks :)
RaJ - Thanks! And it's OK, I have been shaving my head for years, so I'm not terribly worried about losing hair. Wait... you were talking about hair falling off, right? Right?
Jonathan - Thanks!
Becky - What a charming song! If you called, I don't talk, so it would be all awkward, because you'd talk and be thinking, "why isn't he talking?" Regarding tattoos, I'm not against them! I almost got one myself.
Jasmine - I did! And my memory isn't really that good, but I do remember the first time I did stuff. And my memory has a 10 year limit, because I don't remember my teens.
Sarah - Thanks!
Elastic - I'm not embarrassed to tell anyone about my feelings on the song "Bootylicious."
X - Happy one year! And thanks! I hope the doughnut was good.
Wendela - I did enjoy it, thanks! And as for Tiger, it's just a harmless man-crush.
Zoe - Thanks, dear. But don't get too comfy, you're next.
Elastic - Thanks, yo!
Toni - Welcome, and thanks! Good to know it doesn't completely suck.
NCS - So young?! Ha! But thank you for the song!
Carrot - You would definitely win the "present of the year" award for that. Thanks!
jams o donnell said:
Happy 30th! I remember my 30th.. but sadly my 50th is a lot closer than it now!
Hope you have a good day
glo said:
Ah, crummy. What a difference a day makes....Happy Birthday, blogbuddy Omar! God grant an equally eventful and joyful next 30 years...Glo
Syar said:
I'm ruining the 20 comments for your Twenties, Decade in review but oh well. Happy belated birthday! And holla to Buffy.
scroobious said:
Ooh, happy belated! Yeah, so I'm late as usual, but painfully sincere. Maybe that makes up for it.
And I disagree completely with Toni; it doesn't suck. It doth rock. It'll be hard to live up to your 20s, though, with a record like that. (But, it took you *how* long to try calamari? Weirdo. Maybe it's just not as commonplace in NY as in Cape Town.)
Jon said:
I can’t believe I haven’t commented on this post yet. Maybe this is why everyone says I’m such a jerk. Well, anyway, Happy Belated Birthday!!
Just out of curiosity (I’ll be turning 30 later this year), was there any serious crying involved?
Also, do you celebrate starting at midnight on the day you were born, or do you know exactly what time of the day you were born and wait until then before the festivities begin? I was born at 4:40 pm, so I like to wait until then before I kick it into party mode.
Lia said:
Happy B-lated B-day, B-mar.
Oops. I meant O-mar. Honest!
That's quite a decade. I hope the next one is just as memorable. Anyhow, that tattoo of a Tiger right over your heart? We all know about it, so you might as well 'fess up.
Carol said:
Happy Belated Birthday! We will share the same decade for a few months. Alas in August I leave your decade to join the many who have gone before me and made it to 40 (However 40 the new 30 so I'm just planning to relive my 30's again.)