Wow, have to say, this was a big birthday! First of all, I turned 30. Yep 3-0. I wouldn't go so far as to say I feel ambivalent about this - I did in fact consider a mid-life crisis of several sorts and "age" crossed my mind in several weeks leading up to it. But heck, I'd already sold our house and cars and moved my family to the middle of South India with what we could pack in an air shipment. Ahead of the curve I should say. And seriously, I like to think back to when one of our best family friends was asked about getting "old" by her son, and she replied without hesitation that she wouldn't be younger even if she could; the experiences and wisdom she'd gained with age were more important. And so, even with a little more reluctance and a little less grace, I turned 30 and will say, I wouldn't trade in the experience of the last six months (wisdom is still out to jury) even if I could be 29 again. I can't even describe the ways I've "grown up" of late - maybe even a little more patient, tolerant, empathetic and appreciative. The myriad of experiences here haven't always been fun - from homesickness to power outages - but they have been valuable.
And I said a little more patient... I still went for my birthday run - the annual three mile jog "to prove I still can" that I've taken the last 11 years. I wouldn't say I didn't break a sweat, but I still can. And I took some other advice I'd gotten regarding some stress at work, and along the jog - let it go. Time to move forward, and work on that wisdom piece of experience.
On the MUCH lighter side, birthdays here appear to be a BIG deal always. It seems however, that you can NOT celebrate before the actual day - WAY bad luck. To the point that HH last Friday was nearly postponed, lest... I don't know. But I am incredibly supersititous. Luckily don't really need a reason to drink so we just went (try not to mention the upcoming birthdays). On my actual brithday of course, at 6am, the SMS's started rolling in from my friends, team, driver, etc. The day at work was filled with birthday wishes of "many happy returns of the day" - I'm not totally sure what this means, but I think the jist of it is and many more. I had cake three times complete with celebrations throughout the day. The training team came to my desk with an enormous card and sang (and not bad singing either). My team had a surprise meeting with cake and a sweet card. Seven bouquets of flowers filled the house. Friends brought gifts of clothes and jewelry - seriously - pearls. WOW!!! I thought I was over the top by singing happy birthday to myself. They really do it up here. And to end the day at work, kicked off a mentor program that I am seriously excited about. I know I'm a geek, but hey, it's my birthday.
And then Wade, Caden and I headed out to dinner at BBQ Nation. I wanted to have a "family" outing to top off the day. But it was late, and India where nothing is a hurry even with a hungry three year old. And although the food was awesome and the martini was chilled, I was reminded why we don't ordinarily dine out with our adorable three year old (gaining that wisdom again). He wanted rice for dinner. White rice. But then "it wasn't cooked." I assured him it was; he said it was cold then. We got him ice cream - white. He changed his mind and wanted chocolate sauce. We went and got him some (buffet). He didn't want it then. We scraped it off. And so on and on. It wasn't totally picture-perfect, but he fell asleep in the ride home - and who can't love that conked out, head sideways way kids sleep in the car - adorable! It was a good day - many happy returns to all! 
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