“S” X 3 = Single. Sexy. 30-Something.
January 22nd, 2006 ·
This weekend, I did something rather interesting: I aged. I celebrated my birthday with a fabulous crew of friends that I absolutely adore. I don’t really freak out about my age. Why not? Well, because the Fountain of Youth flows from the taps of the world’s largest metropolitan areas. I’m serious. I think people age differently in cities. Do you remember the show thirtysomething? It’s about a cast of 30-somethings who live outside of Philadelphia. On the show, marriage, babies and bad 80s hairdos abound.
Granted, if the show were created in the 90s or 00s, the hairstyles would have been different. But, chances are pretty good that the maritial status and the children would have been the same. Indeed, shows like Roseanne, Everybody Loves Raymond and other 90s and 00s TV sitcoms feature similar families. Now, contrast that with Sex in the City.
The cast of Sex in the City are in their 40s (and 50s?). And, they live in New York City. During the beginning of the show’s run, all of the women enjoy the single life and, well, have sex in the city. Toward the end of the run, husbands, life partners and babies begin to appear … but, only many years after the women close the 30-something years of their lives. Same with the show Girlfriends.
These sexy ladies live in Los Angeles instead of New York City, but the storyline is the same. Sure, one could make the argument that all three of these shows (thirtysomething, Sex in the City and Girlfriends) are just television shows. But, life seems to follow suit. The lives of my friends that live in Chicago, Los Angeles, London and here in New York City are very different from the lives of my friends who live in smaller towns or rural areas. Sure, some city people marry and have kids, they just do it much later in life. Citylife keeps you younger longer.
To be clear, there isn’t anything inherently good or bad about living in the city vs. living in other areas. I think the key is simply to find the place that best suits your lifestyle. And, for me, I choose to raise my glass and toast to 30-something in the city: The shows. The people. The decade. The life.
Hi, I'm 
Please put your fingers in your ears Stolie, I am gonna sing!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Stolie, happy birthday to you!
Happy Birfday! Glad to hear you were ringing yours in with friends and having a great time!
–sid
Happy Birthday Stolie; sounds like you had a blast! btw, Date went well… so we’ll see how things go…
Happy Birthday!
Yah well at least you got it better than me, back home (not England) the norm is arranged marriages or at least having a steady boyfriend when you’re in your early 20s and then marriage and babies before hitting 30.
I’m glad my parents are normal and dont force these things down my throat. What sucks is seeing it happen before your very eyes, i.e. some people I used to know from school are either already engaged or panicking because they’re not, heck they’re only 22-23 like me!!
Again, Happy Birthday:)
Happy Birthday…glad you enjoyed moving into the 30-something bracket. Um, one correction….”Sex and the City is an American cable television program based on the book of the same name. It was originally broadcast on the HBO network from 1998 until 2004. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the sex lives of four female best friends, three of whom are in their mid-to-late thirties, and one of whom, Samantha, is in her forties.” Wikipedia.
I join the cacaphonous chorus of those singing happy birthday to you.l
Happy birthday, you old fart! ;)
Do I seem old just because I am married and have a baby? True, I can’t just run off and do most things on the spur of the moment, but I don’t feel old. Is it more of a lifestyle rather than age?
Guri: Awww, thanks for the song, sweetie!! :)
Sid: Thanks. It was a blast. I wish I could have a birthday EVERY day. :)
Mitch: YAY!!!! Glad to hear that the date went well and I wish you luck with it moving forward.
Darwin: THANKS! Ages ago, I had a friend whose parents gave her an ultimatum. Find your own man before the age of 25 or we’ll go the arranged marriage route. She and I stopped hanging out (I moved) before she turned 25, but I’ve always wondered what ever happened.
Berry: Oooh, thanks for the info! I always thought that they were in their 40s given that the actresses were already that age. (Expect Kim Cattrall / Samantha; she’s 52 now … and, interestingly, just like the show, her new beau is this young hottie.)
JohnJEnright: What?!?! No Birthday Rhyme?!?! :) Just kidding. Thanks for the birthday wishes.
MamaChristy: I *am* an old fart!! :) … By the way, no, you don’t seem “old” to me. When I think of you, the first words that come to mind are: caring, good mother, smart, interesting, kind, etc. Probably an error on my part, but I use the words “old” and “mature” and “grown up” interchangeably. This is probably due to *YEARS* of listening to my mother and other relatives ask me when I am going to “grow up” and get married and start having children. (They live in a really small town.) My response is always, “people in the city aren’t doing that yet.” But, you’re completely right. It’s nothing to do with age and everything to do with lifestyle.
Sorry I am late, Happy Belated Birthday!
It’s *never* too late. :) Thanks for the Happy Birthday wish.
Cheers to that! And Happy Birthday!
Thanks!!! YAY 30-SOMETHING!!! :)