Last year, luckily, I celebrated the end of my 20’s without the pandemic as my birthday falls in January. After my birthday, it seems like the whole world turned upside down. Literally?. Who remembers the absurd craze on purchasing toilet paper. It is still a shock that toilet paper would be on the top of the list out of all other necessities. Like really, shortage of toilet paper.

Fast track to this year 2021, where all 91 babies like myself are turning the big 30. Unfortunately, it is not like the movie “13 going on 30,” where Jenna wishes to be “thirty and thriving” and wished herself back into a 13-year-old girl; In reality, age increases, and no turning back time, so live your life with no regrets. It is bittersweet turning thirty amid the pandemic. I am also overwhelmed with confidence that the best is yet to come, and thirty is the new twenty! Right? Remember, with age comes wisdom, grace and maturity or something along that line. Still yet in experiencing any of that myself.

Yes, I still have themes; this year’s theme was “Back to the 90’s,” A Throwback 90’s party was what I needed to start my 30’s. The ’90s for me was the Gameboy era, the clueless era, the recording of ringtone on your phone, the overalls, bandanas, scrunchie and the best music, well more the so late 80s-90s. So I couldn’t resist but to throw a 90’s themed birthday bash; However, all preparation to celebrating my birthday was delayed until mid-April, the short sign of freedom before entering another lock-down.

There are still a few good reasons I continue to celebrate my birthday. Food, family, and an excellent reason to practice my so call bar-tending. Made my own adult version of Capri-sun and non-alcoholic fruit punch and my poor attempt to make a watermelon cake with blackberries, kiwi and other fruits. Looked through old boxes of junk and found an old floppy disk, stacks of CDs, my dad’s old antenna radio and little knick-knack here and there. Bought Hubba-Bubba gums, a 90s theme napkin, a mini-gumball machine from Amazon and recycle decorations from other birthdays.

My birthday celebration is usually just a big “family games night with prizes.” To celebrate my milestone, I up the ante and splurge on the gift this year and got gift cards, and although I did not win, the joy of spending time with family and just having fun was worth it. As usual, my fantastic family goes along with all of my outrageous ideas; I honestly think part of it is the competitive drive and free food and gifts.

I have only been living for three decades, so I have no advice for you. However, it safe to say that I have been doing something right in my life: as I am still healthy, safe, surrounded by family and friends, grateful for the good, bad and ugly and my definition of success, this is all thanks to the GOD Almighty. I am fairly halfway there to my retirement and old age pension. Joking y’all, for now, will continue to celebrate life, a new chapter, a new milestone, making my thriving thirty a year of improvements, learning, challenges, continued success despite the pandemic.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost,

to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.“

Eleanor Roosevelt

So who is hopping on the train with me?
Let’s cue the balloons, confetti and have a social distance parade. Yes, my twenties were undeniably unforgettable, but I am thirty now, and it all about making those lemonades.

Until next time Pips!