Surviving Wayne: February 2008

30 For Almost A Week

Before I get into being 30, I want to make a quick plug. Many of you know that Paula and I are major American Idol fans. I am keeping a blog where I post my thoughts on the performances. The site is www.wayneonidol.blogspot.com or you can click on the American Idol icon over on the top right hand side bar of my this blog (icon is only visible if you are actually on my www.survivingwayne.blogspot.com website).

Ok, so I turned 3o last Wednesday. I was very nervous about it. It was like I had to face getting older. Now, being a week in, it is not so bad. It is still very surreal to think that I am 30. This is the first time, since Paula and I have known each other, that we have been in two different decades as far as age goes. This will only be true for three months, as she will join the 3o club on May 9.

I have been thinking about things like retirement savings, having children, and accomplishing things I thought I would have accomplished by now. Other than that, there is not a lot to say about being 30.

I guess it was just like ripping off a bandaid. It's gonna hurt when you do it, but it will be quick and you will be better once it is done.

I guess I actually survived.

Wayne @ 10:16 PM v Comments (1) v

Contemporary Adults

So, over the past 24 hours or so, I have endured much harassment and banter from my esteemed friends. We had some people over last night to celebrate my upcoming 30th birthday. They found out that I was nervous about turning 30 and have since had "fun" with me.

Okay, okay, I will try not to be so over dramatic about turning 30. Nonetheless, it is still somewhat strange. The other night as I lay in bed, I kept saying to myself, "I am 30." It sounded very strange and kinda felt surreal. I know that 30 is not old, truly. I guess I never thought I would ever get older.

Paula and I have volunteered to lead the Adult Ministries in our Corps (church). With this thought of growing older, I have been thinking about a few things. One of those things is how The Salvation Army defines Young Adults. Young Adults are defined by The Salvation Army as those individuals ages 18 - 35.

Now, there are some people that we hang out with that are in the low 40's, including our corps officers. These individuals have "the feel," if you will, of what "Young Adults" are supposed to be, yet fall beyond the defining age range. I think that now, in a day and age where 40 is the new 25, 50 is the new 30, and 60 is the new 40, this category of adults should be redefined.

Most of these individuals, as a whole, are not as traditional as adults that were the same age 20 years ago. These individuals are the pioneers, if you will, of contemporary worship. These are the individuals that first challenged the status quo of the modern traditional church.

Aside from tastes in worship styles, there are obvious changes in relational experiences. People today, on average, are starting families later in life than they did 20 years ago. Look at Paula and me, for example. We both turn 30 this year and we do not have any children yet.

We are in a new time. The things that defined us 20 years ago, sometimes need to be updated, as they are outdated definitions.

...just some food for thought.

I am going to bed.

The age of 30... this I shall survive.

Wayne @ 9:39 PM v Comments (0) v

Just a Number... or a Milestone of Transition

Well... Wednesday is the day that I really have not looked forward to. Wednesday is February 13, 2008. That day 30 years ago on a snowy February evening, I was born. So the question of the hour is: Am I getting old?

I have shared with several people that, as a child, I can remember my mom (I think) watching the show, Thirty Something. I can remember thinking that those people who were "thirty something" are old. Now in just a few days, I will be entering the "thirty something" club.

Sometimes it seems that deep down, I still feel like a kid. I guess my fear is that I will wake up Wednesday morning and face the reality that I'm not kid anymore.

Am I just going through a mid-life crisis early? If so, you better hide the toupe and convertable.

I think I will survive.

Wayne @ 10:53 PM v Comments (1) v

Dreaded Day

Yesterday was the day... the day I had long feared would come. Yesterday was the day that is much worse than finding out that you have to have all your teeth pulled. It is more disturbing than to find out your neighber has been secretly peeping in your windows. It is more painful than a terrible, terrible sunburn. Even to talk about it makes me cringe with nausea.

Yesterday... I had to go to the DMV and get my drivers license renewed! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

I was there for like three hours. I royally hate, with excessive passion, going to the DMV. My initial first irritance is that all the signs on the wall were in English AND Spanish. There were even a few signs only in Spanish (I have an intense problem with this). I have this thing about people driving and not being able to read the words in English on the signs... it shouldn't be allowed. Anyway.

So I am in line and the line stops a few times because they can't check anymore in because there are not enough seats for people to sit in. What makes this process go even slower is the fact that some people come in with their momma, daddy, and second cousin who all go sit in seats that are where those in line are supposed to go after checking in. Well the line, again, is stopping because those checking in don't have any where to sit because all the relatives of the guy at the end of the line have taken them.

In all, I stood waiting to get checked in for an hour. The seats are smack-dab side-by-side up against one another. The entire time I am in line, I scope out possible areas I want to sit in. Truth be known, I am a big guy. With or without being a tad on the fat side, I am still built with a large frame and I simply take up some space, if you know what I'm saying. Anyway, I am looking for a seat that is not in the corner, around stinky people, or other "space taking" people.

I get a seat between and elderly African-American woman and man a small framed Mexican-looking guy. The lady was very nice. We chatted and joked about the DMV. The Mexican guy had a black eye and honestly looked like he had gotten mugged right before coming to the DMV. I didn't speak to him, because honestly I doubted he spoke any English and he really seemed kinda wierd.

He got up and a skinny white guy sat down in his spot. He was kinda preppy. He asked me and the guy on the other side of the seat if he could "squeeze in between us." The other guy had a larger frame and we both were thrilled a smaller framed individual was sitting between us. This meant more room for us! The skinny guy said, "I am sure glad you guys speak my language." I was glad someone else cought on to what I had cuaght onto as soon as I walked in the door.

The skinny guy had to go get some money at an ATM because he realized that he forgot to bring cash or check. So some strange guy sat next to me. After the number before mine was called, the strange guy looked at my number and said, "Man, it would be terrible if the electricity went off now." Ok so aside from being much closer to this guy than I would like to be, I discovered that he hadn't brushed his teeth since the 80's. His breath was so bad, the skin on my face felt like it was gonna peel off.

Anyway, I just smiled and gave a clever response.

Finally, heaven opened and a multitude of angels burst into song!! They had called my number. It felt like being on death row and all of a sudden, you had been pardoned.

I took my eye test, took my street sign test, posed for a picture that was sure to be non-flattering, and pay my $32 charge. I was out the door, three hours after I had entered into it.

I survived.

Wayne @ 1:45 PM v Comments (0) v