Thirty Awesome Things.

In honor of being pushed, over-eagerly, into the world some three decades before this moment, I'd like to tell you some thirty awesome things I've done, in no particular order.

1. Created Human Life. Twice.

2. Edited and published an anthology.

3. Sang in an Opera. Twice.

4. Ate dinner with Benazir Bhutto.

5. Wrote a novel in November. Twice.

6. Wrote a screenplay in June. Twice.

7. Learned to quilt.

8. Wrote a novel in a weekend.

9. Fell in love.

10. Got married.

11. Breastfed my son.

12. Learned how to play the piano.

13. Learned to ask for help when I need it.

14. Earned my AA in music.

15. Earned my BA in history, my worst subject.

16. Joined a fraternal organization.

17. Learned to TYPE.

18. Composed music that wasn't awful.

19. Volunteered.

20. Swam in the Ocean.

21. Reclaimed my sense of self.

22. Conquered my fear of roller coasters.

23. Experienced a tornado from the inside.

24. Became a human lightning rod.

25.Learned to ride a bike at the age of:

26. Saw a water spout stop at a stop light, wait for it to turn green, and continue on it's way.

27. Learned to sew.

28. Had my artwork displayed in a museum.

29. Survived a mild stroke.

30. Discovered the power of *friends*