I called my Mom one day when I was twenty-two, to complain about how totally sucky my life was. I don’t remember exactly what was so awful — I think maybe I was frustrated with a new boss or something. Whatever. I had just graduated college, spent a year on the Clinton campaign, and was sharing a 2,000 square foot apartment/recording studio in Georgetown. My job was fun, my circle of frineds was huge, my bank account wasn’t over-drawn, and I had recently spent a half-hour, solo, with Nelson Mandela. In short, I had absolutely zero to whine about.
In her polite, rosy way, Mom told me told shut the fuck up, and enjoy what I had. Great moments don’t last forever, she said, and you better enjoy them while they’re going on.
I still struggle to remember that simplest of lessons. But birthdays have a way of forcing you to stop and take an inventory of your life — especially milestone birthdays, like number 35.
So with Mom’s advice in mind, here’s a list of some of the things I’ve done since I turned 34.
- Hung backstage with Snoop
– Shot guns with Xeni
– Got shot at by Iraqis
– Climbed Chichen Itza
– Caught the dunk by Iguodala (and Knicks/Sixers with Uncle Steve)
– Rode the rapids upstate
– Got choked in Krav Maga
– Tested a killer robot
– Blew up an IED
– Threw parties
– Threw up at parties
– Rode a Black Hawk and a C-130
– Flew a Joint Strike Fighter sim
– Fasted
– Gorged
– Snowshoed
– Snorkled
– Hiked
– Spellunked
– Sinned
– Atoned
– Prayed
– Cursed
– Cried
– Comforted
– Visited:* Brooklyn
* San Fran
* L.A.
* London
* Leeds
* Chi-town
* H-town
* Tulum
* Cozumel
* Philly
* Baghdad
* Kuwait City
* Deadwood
* DC
* Sedona
* Manchester, VT
* Norfolk
* The ‘burgh
* Ft. Irwin, CA
* Ft. Monmouth, NJ
* Ft. Huachuca, AZ
* Picatinny Arsenal, NJ
* Eglin AFB, FL
* Pentagon, VA
* And THREE laser weapon labs- Chased crooks (A few weeks before the 34th, technically. Still counts.)
– Filed about 750 blog posts
– Wrote for Wired, Newsweek, the Times, the Forward, Pop Sci, Pop Mech, Wired News, the Times mag, the National Post, and Fast Company.
– Blabbed on CNN, NPR, and the BBC
– Had four albums come out with my name on ‘em
– Learned a nice chunk of Hebrew
– Reconnected with my brother
– Raised some Katrina cash
– And, of course, got engaged
You know what? That seems like a pretty good year to me. Thanks, Mom. You were right.
First one ?
Happy birthday! Keep going !
Nice work.
Your mom’s wise!
Frank
Hey it’s my birthday too ! So Happy Birthday as well.
I wonder what you were doing as a younger kid… i just turned 22 and all i’ve done is write some pretty cool UAV helicopter software !
I know the feeling, one day your young & strong like bull, now your 35 (I’am 38). But like mom said, it ain’t your age, it’s how you live.
Happy B-Day, kepp filling up your hard drive with memories !
happy b-day! I might be in NYC next weekend so I’ll buy you a birthday beer if I see you.
Happy birthday, Noah. Damn, that’s one action-packed year. None of that stuff will change your life half as much as having kids, though you’re more likely to survive kids in one piece.
Keep up the great work.
–AG
Dear Noah,
Here’s the one thing I know for sure — it’s always been a privilege to be you Mom.
Happy Birthday!
Love, Mom
Long time listener; first time caller…
Good point dude. Personally the 30th birthday sucked more than I ever thought it would. But with that behind me the ones after it have been pretty darn good all things considered. Your mom was a wise chick.
I really envy the “Tested a killer robot” part… I can only dream and live vicariously through your blog!
You’re only 35? I thought you were much older.
Happy birthday! Have another 100 years of happy life!
Happy Belated B-day. If you ever need an amateur photographer to go back to the sandbox with you, let me know. I’d love to tag along and get shot at. for serious.
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