Recently I was fortunate enough to celebrate my thirtieth birthday party with some of my favorite people. For the evening we rented out a new bar in Oakland called Tallboy and made everyone dress in black tie.

I had the idea for a party like this some years ago, when during the early pandemic we rented a house in Joshua Tree late in September for another friend, Woody’s thirtieth. A few years my senior, Woody had become a close friend. But on one of those warm desert evening I thought then to myself, what would I like to do when I turn thirty? I had then decided that I’d like to find a kitschy bar and make the event formal. A bar like the Tonga Room. I wanted to invite all my friends, all my family; everyone who had helped to make things a little easier during my soon to be thirty one years on earth. I wanted to buy them all drinks for support along the way. I knew a bar buy out would be expensive, so I started stashing away a little money after that J Tree trip and I’m so glad I did.

I am still astounded at how many people showed up for the party. Over sixty, I think. The immediacy of love and support I felt that night was unlike anything else I’ve experienced. I knew I had a wide network of friends, but seeing everyone in one was place truly filled my heart. And the fullness remained through the next few weeks.

Woody and I often joke that we live a charmed life. We’ve both been very fortunate: sometimes after mountain biking in Tahoe and sharing a few beers lakeside during sunset, there’s just no other way to describe it. I have been able to experience so much during my life so far. In the twilight of my twenties I worried that charmed life would start to dissipate. But I feel now much excitement for whats to come. My friendships are stronger than ever and the possibilities of whats to come are boundless.

I know there will be hardship to come, but if I can hold on the memories of this night, and channel the feeling I feel now; I know too I’ll be alright.