So I turned 31 today, and as often happens when this time of year rolls around, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything that’s happened since my last birthday. I gotta’ tell ya’, it’s been a pretty good year.
It all started with a surprise 30th birthday party. It was great being with so many friends that I hadn’t seen in a while and I was touched that they had all taken the time to come and celebrate with me. Collin’s special Caribbean jerk chicken was an extra-special treat.
In July, The Legend of Sorrow Creek (a horror movie that I wrote and directed) was featured as an official selection in the Twin Cities Independent Film Festival in Minneapolis. While I wasn’t able to actually attend the event, it still felt good to have our work recognized and gave me another shot of confidence to keep persevering in the film business.
A week later, that small victory was followed up by another more personal accomplishment as Michelle and I ascended Haystack Mountain and earned our places as Adirondack 46ers. In the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, there are 46 peaks over 4000 feet and being a 46er means you’ve climbed them all. It took us just over 2 years to accomplish our goal and standing there on top of Haystack was truly one of the most fulfilling moments I’ve had in my life.
In late August, my brother (and best-man) Sean took me away for a bachelor party weekend fishing trip. While I was told not to make plans for the weekend, I had no idea what he had planned. What ensued was 48 hours of good times with my brother and closest friends at a secluded cottage on a beautiful lake. While it rained almost constantly and we only caught one fish between the 8 of us, we made the best of it with 234 beers and 2 bottles of Jack Daniels.
Three weeks later, on September 15th, Michelle and I got married overlooking Mirror Lake in the heart of the Adirondacks. It was a small ceremony performed by Michelle’s sister Jeanine and attended only by our closest family and friends. It was perfect and everything we wanted. Michelle looked more beautiful than I have ever seen her (and she’s usually one hot woman), the weather cooperated (briefly), and love was in the air. Since then, not a day goes by that I’m not reminded that I’m lucky to have found someone so perfect to share this life with.
A week later, we had a larger reception for our extended family and friends at a heritage mansion on a nature reserve. While it was a very informal do-it-yourself affair, the great speeches, open bar, and packed dance-floor, all made for a very memorable evening for all.
Then it was off to Paris for the honeymoon. There’s nothing like traveling with the person you love and sharing a bottle of wine, baguette, and cheese beneath the Eiffel Tower. Sigh…
Yup, I had it good.
But while this year was amazing for me, it wasn’t so great for everyone. Seeing some very close friends go through some tough break-ups and hard times has been rough and has taught me never to take today’s happiness for granted.
So as I sit here sipping a beer in the afternoon and thinking about the ups and downs of my 30th year, I gotta’ say it’s been a pretty good one. And I’m a pretty happy kid.