Today I turn 34.

For some reason, I can’t get Fred’s post about turning 17 for the third time out of my head. As I have been approaching this milestone, I can’t help but feel like I’m turning the corner to a new phase.

I definitely feel like the last 17 years have been about figuring out how to be an adult.  I owe a lot of that learning to Frannie.

And I’m pretty excited to look ahead at the next 17, and to figure out how to be a really good professional, husband and dad.

I’m not big on birthdays, and generally don’t like to make a big deal out of them.  But Frannie and I have arrived at a really nice way of celebrating ours — we’ve started taking days off together on each others’ birthdays, playing hooky and doing something fun.  Last year on my birthday we rented a tiny little boat and cruised around Boston Harbor in 45 degree weather.  This year on hers we caught a matinee movie and made an early escape for a few cocktails.  It’s a really nice thing to do and I hope we keep doing it forever.

I’m excited for the next 17. If they’re anything like the last 17 they will be twisty and turny, but will hopefully end up taking me (and us) in a good direction.