You're half-way to dead...

I recently turned 25. My 14 year-old brother eloquently explained to me that 25 is half-way to 50, which is half-way to dead....nice, right?
One of my close friends is a year older than me, and at 26 she has a pretty darn good head on her shoulders. We met in the 6th grade and were instantly bonded as only prep-school Boca Babes-in-training can be...we didn't fit in perfectly, so we fit together beautifully. This morning I found this list in my in-box...so please, welcome my first guest, Ms. Jordan....

Jordan, Me, and Ms. Tegan- Junior High

You know you're a Big Girl when:
1. You start 'editing' who the friends in your life are.
2. You start to refer to other women as 'that really drunk' girl or simply the 'other' girl; because you realize that getting completely wasted all the time is unladylike, obnoxious and trashy.
3. If you "gossip", it's less about starting trouble and more about, "Wow, X is really making themself look bad."...the recognition of bad behavior becomes clearer.
4. You no longer consider Saturday night, "party night". It's just Saturday night.
5. You stop fooling around with boys. Why? Because at a certain point- you're not some young, independant chick havin' fun- you're just being a slut.
6. You stop tolerating obnoxious people.You start telling them to shut-up and
leave.
7. You start telling people to behave themselves. You've matured to a place of realization of bad behavior- so you're helping them get there as well.
8. You ease-up on self destructive behavior. Yeah, it may have been fun,but if
Harvard did a study on how bad it is for you-it's time to give it up.
9. You stop caring so much what other's think. It allows for a sense of freedom.
10. You start evaluating who, what and when is important to you.Who are the
people that matter?What matters?When are you going to achieve your goals
11. You ease- up on the need to shock people
12. You take care of yourself- multi dimensional- in health, irelationships, in career

This list could go on and on....Jordan, Tegan and I have already added an entire addendum pertaining to spring break (I forgot I even had one, Jordan will be sodding her yard). There is a sweet contentment to growing up...to realizing what really is important, to being excited about the challenges ahead and not afraid of them. Being half-way to dead isn't so bad after all...