Good Bye 20's... Hello 30's.

10  years ago, I started my 2nd decade out with a Hello Kitty birthday party complete with cone hats, cupcakes, roommates, a trip to the circus, and a magician.  Decade #2 was pretty special and here is a list of things that have happened in my 20's.  I will stow away each memory and pull them out when I am sitting in that rocking chair, pointed West, old and gray:

My first love.

First time I realized how stupid I had been when it came to others who did me wrong.

My first diaper change. (on an adult)

My first bar experience... by experience I mean dancing on one, throwing up in one, and getting kicked out of one (my thanks to Manda!)

My first time living with a guy.  It worked out.

My first renting experience.

My first time home buyer experience.

Spur of the moment cartilage piercing in San Francisco.

Employee of the Month May 2002!!! What What!!! Ruby Tuesday Bloomingdale!

Throwing my first successful surprise party.

Graduating twice.

My first finger prints.

My first job as a LPN.

Followed by the first time I quit a job without notice.

My first job as a nurse.

The first time I realized I want to be near home rather than be as far away as I could get.

My first time watching someone die.

My first time helping someone peacefully pass on.

And the first time, I couldn't do anything but just hold their hand and pray.

The loss of my last surviving grandparent.

The loss of a dog that has left paw prints on my heart and by no other dog will ever or could ever be measured.

 
My first time driving a golf cart.

And swinging a club.

I moved to Florida, then I moved back.

I was a model in a hair show, I was the model they chose platinum blond for... a year of of bad hair choices followed.....

My first time flying.  Like, standing on the ground and POOF, I'm up in the air.

Standing by the side of Andrea, Alisa, Katie, and Rachael as they said "I DO."

My BIG traveling experiences: Italy, France, Antigua, Canada, Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. John

And even little ones: Nashville, San Francisco, Cleveland, North Carolina and probably numerous others.

Got to attend the Indy 500, and was a smidge away from being in full blow tornado.

Accomplished the Disney hazing of drinking around the world at Epcot.

Marrying the "one".

Health scares with my parents: pulmonary embolisms, cancer, & emergency cranial surgeries...oh my.

Speaking to a room with more than 100 people in it.

Adopting 2 little four legged creatures...quickly teaching me I could love another pup again.

The birth of 2 GREAT nephews...Marshal and Alex.

First time putting my hands on someones chest, compressing as fast as I could... he lived.

The first time getting kicked off an airplane.

The first time putting my own luggage on an airplane (actually standing below the plane and tossing it up).

First time holding a baby less than one day old.  Sweet Gavin.

Meeting Tad the Cad... from All My Children.

My first "Walk" for charity

The first time I bellied up to a bar and cried, by myself.

My first trips to a casino.  Atlantis owes me 5 dollars and the Riverboat 10!

Trying new foods, to name a few, frog legs, a fish with the eye ball still in, octupus that is not calamari, and a dried up cricket.
I also should mention I won 5 bucks from Adam on a dare for trying the dog's food.

And let me end with this....

My first keg stand. (My mom would be so proud!)

"Your 20's are your "selfish" years.  It's a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible.  Be selfish with your time, and all aspects of you.  Tinker with shit, travel, explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground."

 -Kyoko Escamilla