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I’ve been thirty now for 18 days, so I figured I should do a post about it. In reference to the R.E.M. quote that graces this post’s title, I wasn’t able to see myself at 30 at one time. Or, I had a rather complex notion of what “30″ meant. At one point, it was being an academic, writing books/papers and teaching. Another was that I’d be a documentary film maker. Still another had me right where I am now: a job I love, a wife I love, child on the way and a pretty good house.

I’m glad that I have the last option right now.

I have nothing super profound to say about turning 30, other than the pending arrival of my son is more important. So here’s 30 things I learned in 30 years that I hope to carry with me through the next series of 30.

1. Follow your obsessions – it’s why I do what I do
2. Do not ever underestimate the value of being happy in the morning
3. There is something fundamentally beautiful about an airplane, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise
4. Parents are the smartest people in the world
5. Music is fundamentally the most basic force upon the human psyche. I can’t understand how some people are just “not into music”
6. Art is something that takes your breath away and leaves you with no doubt in your mind that you are looking at something other-worldly
7. To that point, a true masterpiece is something you’ll stand in front of for hours to see how different shadows play upon its surface
8. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a geek
9. A jet engine is the perfect artistic representation of a machine: no element of form is without function
10. Knowing something about everything ensures you always have something to say
11. There is nothing more irritating than an ignorant person
12. Complexity and reductiveness means there are no simple situations
13. Everyone had a hair metal phase. It’s OK
14. Meeting someone you’ve idolized is always a thrill
15. When those people turn out to be everything you expected, it’s affirming
16. Nothing is more fulfilling than working for people and with people you respect
17. Conversely, nothing is more deadening than working for someone you don’t
18. I’m lucky to be working with people I respect right now (see number 2)
19. No matter how often I do it, stepping on a plane in LA and off one in NYC is like science fiction
20. SCUBA diving at night is closest I’ve gotten to sensory depravation
21. The natural world never fails to reduce your importance, but that is a good thing
22. Whale watching on Valentines day is a fine way to spend that day with your wife, year after year
23. You can never have enough RAM, hard drive space, monitors, computers, consumer electronics or remote controls. Whoever said money can’t buy happiness never was with me in a computer store.
24. A good film is one where you can’t see the lines at the edge of the paint
25. Michael Snow’s “La region centrale” made me throw up, and is still the best film I’ve ever seen
26. Likewise, Stan Brakhage’s “The Act of Seeing With One’s Own Eyes” nearly did the same
27. At these ages: 10,13,15,17,19,22 – repeat this: “It will get better.” It always does.
28. Your sibling’s irritate you for a reason. They are the only people who really know you. Ever.
29. It’s OK to sing.
30. Time goes too quickly. I’m still trying to find ways to slow it down.

It’s been a great 30. The best is yet to come I hope.