Things to do in Southern Maine, investigated personally and described by Shannon Bryan
(with only slight amounts of exaggeration, digression and references to ostraconophobia).
November 10, 2008
I turned 30 and I have the song to prove it
It happened.
Some time between when my tired noggin hit the pillow last night and when I awoke early this morning to the sound of "you ain't much fun since I quit drinking" crackling from my cheap clock radio, I turned 30. (For the record, I don't like country music. But in an effort to be contrary, my alarm clock refuses to play anything else.)
I grew older in the night and I didn't feel a thing - slept right through it. Though I must've had aging on the brain because I did have a disconcerting dream in which I turned, limb by limb, into a giant block of cheese.
A quick investigation in the mirror this morning led me to conclude that I didn't look any older than I did yesterday, when I was a mere 29. And my feet had not, in fact, morphed into soft triangles of brie.
So I'm 30. Nice.
Of course I've had all weekend to get used to the idea, what with 30th Birthday Observed being on Saturday (because people just don't drink on Mondays like they used to).
And I'd decided that's what I wanted: good friends and drinks. That's all.
So we gathered at Brian Boru's where good people and birthday drinks were aplenty. Even better, Portland-based Travis James Humphrey was playing upstairs and was kind enough to offer a Johnny Cash-inspired birthday song.
Who doesn't love hearing their name in a song? But it was a fill-in-the-blank kind of tune, one that Mr. Humphrey no doubt sang the night before to a Janet or a Frank or a Joe.
Besides, nothing could compare to my real birthday song.
Allow me to digress a moment. Remember my friend with the turning 30 song? A Minnesota musician had written him a personalized song over the summer that just happened to be about turning 30. I'd thought it quite the coincidence, of course, so I wrote a little blog about it.
Well, my friend must've had enough of me sharing his turning 30 song, because he went out and got me my own.
I can confidently say it's the best birthday gift I think I've ever gotten (not that I don't also love the magnetic dress-up Jesus).
Have a listen to the Shannon is Turning 30 song:
I think turning 30 was worth it, if just for the song.
Comments
Love ya, you don't look a day older then 29. :) Had a blast celebrating it too!
Posted by AndreaNovember 10, 2008 08:47 AM
now I have the "Shannon is turning 30" song in my head. Who is this guy? I want to get one for someone!
Posted by rachelNovember 10, 2008 10:05 AM
Happy Birthday you sparkly little ray of sunshiny happiness and all things good! :) Sigh...it seems like just yesterday you were a young whipper snapper.. oh wait that was Saturday. Your birthday song was fabulous! Had such a blast celebrating...but wait! It's not over yet! Hmm....whatever could I mean? ;)
Posted by VictoriaNovember 10, 2008 10:13 AM
Happy big 30 from flatland. I see you couldn't wait until Monday to celebrate. I think this is just a way to celebrate twice. Go ahead. You deserve it.
Posted by oldflatlanderNovember 10, 2008 12:50 PM
How was the Irish Car Bomb? Happy Birthday by the way...Welcome to the Best Decade of your life!
Posted by danielleNovember 10, 2008 01:30 PM
Way to launch a BRAND NEW DECADE!!!! The way I heard it, that huge hoopla that went on all over the country (hey, all over the WORLD!) last week was REALLY in anticipation of YOUR BIRTHDAY! I know...I saw it on CNN....they were announcing that the now President Elect Obama made a reference in his Chicago speech when the final tallies came in that "I can't emphasize enough the effect on the election this year by the energy and enthusiasm of Americans all across this land celerating the 30 magnificent years of Shannon Bryan ... and how they stood in lines for hours at a time to Wish Shannon a HAPPY 30th, and decided to take an extra minute or two to cast their vote while they were at it!" HE DID SAY THAT, RIGHT????
At any rate, while you may have "slept right through it", I was wide awake at the betwitching hour (just like 30 years ago), wishing you were here so I could give you a big hug and wish you a HAPPY BIG 3-0!!!
And, as good as things are right now for you, I think I can say unequivocally...THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!
Love you!!!!
SYNOF!!!!
November 10, 2008 07:29 PM
Omg........I'm so insanely jealous of u right now...Happy birthday anyway, Saturday was awesome (as was the sunday wake up call...Eff blackberries, free phones are the way to go!) and no one but us can say we had a monumental milestone birthday the same time as Obama was voted in AND NKOTB got back together...except P.Diddy, but honestly now, that's not bad company...ANYway HAPPY BDAY!!!!!! Thirty and Yiff free, it's the way to be!
Posted by CaitlinNovember 10, 2008 08:37 PM
i think i might be thirty by the time the song stops buffering!! :)
happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lots of love,
-lisawen
November 10, 2008 09:06 PM
STOP THE PRESS! THERE HAS BEEN A SEVERE MISCALCULATION! Shannon is NOT 30! It couldn't be! She has obvoiusly lost her mind and ability to complete simple math! I am Shannon's brother, and 3 years her elder, so I KNOW the facts! The fact is I am only 29.99 plus tax, so she certainly cannot claim to be 30!
The truth hurts - haha
Happy B-Day Shannon!
Posted by CliffNovember 11, 2008 09:06 AM
You aint seen nothin' yet – just wait 'til you reach 80! It's Christmas Eve as I write this and the check isn't in the mail, even yet, for your birthday, let alone Christmas.
As usual, better late than never.
Belated Happy Birthday!
December 24, 2008 09:17 AM
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many happy returns!
hey, now you can run new, age-group PRs. and compete with a whole new bunch of women
Posted by JimmyNovember 10, 2008 08:38 AM