Day 0: A Slice of Paradise

Dear Readers:

Thank you for following along with me on this roller coaster of a mish-moshy blog.  Today, I have reached the end of my countdown.  Yes, that’s right.  It’s my birthday!  And all is well.  I’m having a wonderful day.

What I am a bit misty over is the fact that this blogging journey has come to an end.  At least in this capacity.  This year this blog has been a saving grace.  I hadn’t realized it at the time, but the blog was so much a part of the process — the aging, reflection, creative, destructive, manic, depressive whirlwind that is my life process — that turning 30 was for me.  I’m going to miss it.

The party, in brief

At the party last night, which was fabulous (lots of people, all the people I had really wanted to come, realistically speaking, came — we had bbq chicken and sausages, quinoa salad, guac, hummus, tahini, salads galore, funky organic chips, four French cheeses and grapes and crackers, soooo much wine it was coming out of everyone’s ears, add sangria to that and add vodka-fresh watermelon punch to that, and then a gorgeous hazelnut chocolate mousse cake at midnight with champagne popping…ahhh…it was perfect), a few people came up to me and said that after turning 30 they realized how much of a relief it was.  A real load off.  The anxiety gone.  Another perfect decade to have fun and create and build and enjoy and grow and transform in.  It’s cliche, but yes, life is indeed beginning at 30 these days.

And today?  Oh, today.

Morning

I awoke and immediately opened my presents.  A modest yet touching collection of trinkets.  Lots of books and interesting design-y elements.  Then my sister and 2 friends and I went to have brunch at the most wonderful restaurant called Manta Ray, right on the beach in southern Tel Aviv, very close to the border with Jaffa.  I had a “Mr Crunchy” – a very croque monsieur-esque cooked sandwich with an Israeli touch — grilled eggplant — to go along with the crunchy ham and the heavenly melted cheese on eggy sweet challah bread, all topped with Rocket salad and cherry tomatoes.  My sister had the pancakes, a rarity here in Israel, cooked American-style, with lovely sweet peach slices on top and a dollop of creme fraiche.  My friends had salads (very Israeli), and scrambled eggs, and we all shared some trout ceviche and freshly baked breads and bagels with a seletion of jams, compotes, cheeses, olives, and whipped butter.  Ah, heaven.

Afternoon…

…was spent shopping at only one store, and thank goodness for that.  I had wanted to wander Tel Aviv, but I hadn’t anticipated the fatigue from last night (we went to bed after 4 am), and the slight hangover (I’m seriously surprised it wasn’t infinitely worse, quite frankly), along with the unbearable mid-day heat.  So we went to the one place I love to shop: Liligrace.  It’s small boutique with just gorgeous, unique, special clothes at very reasonable prices.  A very mini-H&M, homestyle, run by the two sweetest ladies.  See, my sister and I discovered this shop on her birthday, almost 6 months ago to the day.  AND it just happened to be only the 2nd day that this store was in business.  We were some of their very first customers.  So, we kept coming back.  The prices and the styles are just too good to be true.  AND every time I went back, I brought new friends.  It’s a loyalty thing.  I feel special regarding our little coincidence with the birthdays and the store opening and them being so nice and all, you know.  So, of course, of course, this was the only place I would consider going to, if I could only pick one store to shop at on my birthday.  Period.  AND I came out with some excellent loot, at a kind discount as well, for being the birthday girl.  Two dresses, one of them quite dressy and very funky indeed (Japanese meets European), and two very unique shirts.  I feel like a princess when I come out of Liligrace.  I really do.  Visit, if you’re ever in Tel Aviv.  On Dizingof between Ben Gurion and Arlozorov on the eastern side of the street.

Evening…

That’s broaching on right now.  We’ve been napping for a couple hours.  Thank goodness.  We’ll probably have some leftovers for dinner… I can’t believe how much food is left.  Maybe we’ll even bbq again.  Afterward, the plan is to meet up with my family for the “family birthday event.”  You know, obligatory time with grandma, potentially awkward moments with teenage cousins, the works.  I’ve decided to minimize the potential weirdness by opting out of a typical dinner…and just doing dessert and drinks…at a fabulous cafe, 10 Idelson.  I’m expecting world-class cake.  And no more than an hour with my crazy grandma.  And I’m bringing a friend as well which should act as a buffer against potential explosions.  Yes, it should be great.  Tonight?  No idea.  Tel Aviv has crazy parties and night clubs and the like, but I’m so not into that.  I’d rather take in a movie at home.  Hang out.  Sounds nice, doesn’t it?  Yes I think so.

The future

You will still find me editing my novel (will be sent to agents and publishers by the end of summer, I declare!), job hunting (or working at a new job very soon I hope…touch wood), pondering the meaning of life and breathing through countless existential dilemmas, enjoying Tel Aviv, debating living in Israel, analysing oddities, watching Star Trek, traveling the world, writing, thinking, examining, dreaming, breathing, being, and of course cooking a ton and drinking a lot of wine.

I will be starting a new blog very soon.  I have captured some good domain names, and I’ll let you know here how to find me.

Thank you so much for coming along on this ride.  I will miss it.  And I will miss you.

2:40 Hours: Mid-party update

All is well on the rooftop!  Barbecue!  Friends!  Food!  And way, way, way too much alcohol.  I like being a grownup very much.  Can you tell I’ve been drinking?  Well, I intend to be pleasantly tipsy although not wasted come midnight.  Not all the friends are here, but that’s to be expected I think.  I hope.  Or we’ll have far too many leftovers to deal with tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day…gorgeous fresh Arab-made hummus, organic tahini, my sister’s sassy guacamole, my watermelon cocktail, my sangria, Gewurztraminer, Cabs, the works… I love parties that are under my control.  Served with much imagination, warmth, and garlic.  Always the garlic.  Lord knows, I need it tonight.

1 Day: The Last 12 Hours of My 20’s

And I feel fine!

So fine, in fact, that I don’t care if everything gets done right, or if it gets done at all!  For the party tonight, that is…

I’m really OK.  My sister and I cooked quite a bit last night.  The house isn’t clean clean, but it’s not a disaster.  There’s food.  And plenty of booze. Some of the wine is actually expensive and tasty stuff…

And I’m getting a facial in an hour.

ANd I’ve realized (and must continue to realize) that being in your 30’s means knowing you’re in control of your destiny.  If you feel like it, you can rent a car and drive off into the sunset.  Or buy a ticket to Provence.  Or Tuscany.  Or Goa.  Or Russia in winter.  Or sleep all day.  Or jump off a cliff.

So, as I finish off being in my 20’s…  I’ve got to say it’s been an incredible decade.

I began it in Dublin, Ireland, for a year.  Spent a lot of time in London, Moscow, Bangkok, Chicago, the Negev desert, and Tel Aviv.  I’ve vacationed in France and Italy and India and Ireland.  I’ve eaten lobsters in Maine.  I’ve hiked mountains on my own.  I’ve set foot in more than 35 countries.  I earned two degrees and one professional certification.  I’ve worked in something like 5 different careers or more.  I’ve made and lost (mostly made and kept) some incredible friends and lovers.  I’ve baked dozens of cakes.  I’ve fashioned hundreds of beautiful meals.  I’ve written some decent prose and even a book.  Directed some avant-garde plays.  Made some attempts at art.   Created some radio stories.  Met some of the best living artists of our time.  Made some money and spent basically all of it.  I’ve found a way to own a great iMac, a fantastic KitchenAid, and I have always found room in the budget for Chanel Allure Sensuelle.

A good decade?  Why not.  Yes.  Yes it has been.  There’s no need to look at what you don’t yet have, and what you didn’t yet do.  This is enough.

12 hours.  A facial.  Cooking.  Cleaning.  Yes.

Thank you for coming along on this journey.

Me, in an hour.