self-indulgent ... have an enthusiasm
for life instead of worrying about
your hair falling out."

and panicked about turning 30," says
Susan Light. "But when I turned 30,
I was OK."
Light, 33 of Commerce, works as
an account executive for a mortgage
Fretting The Big 3-0
lender. "There were nine months of
Some fear that 30 means mini-
pure
hell before I turned 30 because
vans and mutual funds and saying
we
built
our house and I had a mis-
farewell to carefree living.
carriage,
so turning 30 was nothing,"
"I don't want to turn 30. I'm not
JULIE WEINGARDEN
* "It only gets better in your 30s.
she says.
ready to be responsible. When you
Special to The Jewish News
You have more knowledge and are more
Karin
Sherman,
27,
welcomes
the
turn 30, you feel you have to grow
open-minded. I'm in a better position
big birthday because her husband
up," says Phil Okun, a 29-year-old
espite the denial and anxiety
in my career than I ever was in my 20s.
and
most
of
her
friends
are
older.
salesman for Compuware. He says
many face when entering
I have more responsibilities but that
But
part
of
it
is
bittersweet.
his friends dread turning 30.
that foreign decade after the
doesn't scare me; it strengthens me." —
"Getting older means that my
For 31-year-old attorney Eric
20s,
there
are
positive
points
Susan
Light, 33
family is getting older. That frightens
Glick, turning 30 was not something
about getting older. Even those who
me,"
she
says.
he advertised. "I got a late start and
* "You know who you are. You are
Sherman says she is more comfort- long for the days of getting carded at
was in law school when I was turn-
the bar, instead of pondering how much who you are because of what you've
able
with
herself
now
than
when
she
ing 30, so I felt that I was totally
to stick in their 401k plan, eventually
experienced in your 20s. I'm hoping
was in her early 20s. "I won't be
behind. I actually told
come
to terms with "The Big 3-0."
that 10 years from now, I like my 40s
swayed
by
someone
people I was 27 for a
Might as well. There's no going back.
more than my 30s. Age 30 is where you
else's opinion. When I
long time," he says.
Some
metro
Detroiters
share
their
really
launch yourself." — Drew
was younger, I'd sec-
By age 30, he want-
great
things
about
the
30s.
Levinson,
37
ond-guess myself
ed to be done with
because I didn't have as
school, "have a good
* "Life is great. Weird, but great. You
* "I was healthier and more energetic
much experience under
job and maybe be
don't
have to get-approval to do things
in my 30s." — Michael Light, 41
my
belt.
engaged or married.
from family or friends. You do things
Her husband, Michael,
But ... I'll get married
for you, not your parents." — Michael
* "The nice thing about 30 is you
a 34-year-old physi-
when I fall in love, not because I am
Fishman,
33
have
begun to really map out your
cian, didn't think turning 30 was a
turning a certain age. I guess I was
future. You know where you are and
big
deal.
In
fact,
it
was
an
exciting
stressed because it makes you evalu-
* "I think people respect you more.
where you are going. In the overall
time, as he was finishing his training
ate where you are."
When
you are in your 20s people still
scope of things, it's not that big of a
and
getting
married.
Now that he's in his 30s, however,
treat you like a young punk." —
deal. You are always going to be as
"I
have
a
wife,
house,
a
daughter,
Glick says he is more confident. Part
Debbie Schwalb, 39
young as you are in your heart. The
a
business,
so
getting
older
seems
of that thirtysomething attitude may
only difference now is that when I get
natural. It's probably more difficult
come from the fact that most young
*
"Being
married
and
having
chil-
up Sunday morning to play racquetball,
for people who are single. I have a
adults are more settled — with
dren."
—
Michael
Sherman,
34
I
have to stretch a little more than I did
friend who is 35 and still going to
career, relationships and a sense of
before." — Jeff Kaplan, 30
clubs
looking
to
meet
girls,"
he
says.
self.
For some, turning 30 is a transi-
Stephanie Kaplan wanted to be
tion
from the me-years to the
established in her career and starting
mommy-years.
Nicole Kovacs, 28,
a family by age 30. Mission accom-
sees
the
30s
as
a
time for mother-
plished, says Kaplan, a clinical social
hood.
She
is
expecting
her first child
worker who turns 30 next month.
in
February.
She is expecting her second child in
"It seems like my friends that are
May.
1. You can say you ve known some friends for over 20 years — and acts rally
married are very comfortable with
Still, the number bothers her. "I
remember
the early. years.
turning
30.
My
friends
who
are
sin-
prefer not to turn 30. It sounds old."
gle
feel
uneasy
about
it
because
they
Kaplan's husband, Jeff, who
2. You look your best. You've ditched the college garb and come into your
don't know who they are going to
turned 30 last spring, says the hard-
marry,"
she
says.
"A
lot
of
people
put
own
style. (Of course, you'll be saying this in the 40s, 50s, oh, always.)
est thing is leaving behind your 20s.
30
as
a
deadline
for
where
they
want
"It always seems like the best
3. It's no longer obvious that you're part of Generation X.
to be at a certain point."
times are in the 20s. Suddenly you
And some don't give it a thought.
turn 30 and feel you lost your young
4. You're closer to getting senior discounts at the movies. (Not really.)
"All I'm looking forward to is a
adulthood," he says.
successful
business
and
finding
an
"People always say 40 is a big
unbelievably exciting female, but
change, but I say it's 30," says Jeff,
how
old I am is not relevant because
owner of the Nationwide Insurance
age
means
nothing to me," says
agency in West Bloomfield. "Now,
Andrey
Ilyasov,
president of Solomon
instead of college parties, you are
&
Son
&
Co.
in
West Bloomfield. "I
thinking of stability, providing for
wish people would be less preoccu-
your family and retirement."
pied with turning 30. After all, 30 is
not 31."
Big 3-0 Not Such A Biggy
But even if it was, it's just a num-
"I stressed out when I turned 28,
ber. E

Great Things
About the 30s

D

By e-bye
me -years

"

The Top Eight Best Things
About The 30s