Security

That pretty much sums it up doesn't it? Scary thought when you go back 20, 25, 30+ years to riding in the back seat of the car and dozing off, knowing all you have to do is wake-up when you get there. You don't need to worry about oncoming traffic, weather conditions or syncing your e-mail, Facebook and text messages to stay connected... Translation: growing-up is tough!

Life gets harder but is also gets richer.

Let's see, when you're sixteen you become the driver. Now you are responsible for the ride and your passengers. Eighteen, you're on your own, you come home when you want and go where you want but Mom and Dad still foot some of the bill.

Twenty-one, bottoms up there is no holding you back!

Twenty-five, graduation maybe? And the first reality that the work day starts at 9am.

Twenty-eight, back to earth, head out of the clouds. Realizations that people aren't perfect, cheeseburgers go right to your hips and that debt is real.

Twenty-eight for me, mortality is real, success is earned and friends and family are bottom line, what it's all about (more on those three realizations to come).

*Autumn and I during birthday week '11