Hmmmmmmmmm rites of passage. I'm not 100% sure what counts. I guess I'll operate according to this definition:
"A rite of passage is a celebration of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another. It involves a significant change of status in society."
So here are experiences that could be framed that way, though not all of them involved a "celebration" and not all of them resulted in me being categorized differently as a person.
January 1978: Well, obviously I transitioned from unborn to born.
May 1979: I became a big sister.
September 1980: I transitioned from being a resident of New Jersey to being a resident of Kernersville, North Carolina.
February 1982: I transitioned to being a resident of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
March 1983: I got a second little sister.
July 1983: Lost my first teeth.
August 1983: I became an attendee of elementary school.
January 1984: Had one of those gigantic entire-class birthday parties when I turned six.
December 1984: I transitioned to being a resident of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Sometime in 1985: I was accepted into a gifted program, and also became a Hebrew school student.
September 1986: I became a Brownie Girl Scout.
Summer 1987: Had my first sleep-away camp at Girl Scouts.
July 1989: I transitioned to being a resident of Sarasota, Florida.
August 1989: I became a middle school student.
Sometime in early 1991: Uhhhhh first visit from Aunt Flo so to speak.
February 1992: I wrote my first complete novel.
August 1992: I became a high school student.
September 1992: I dated a boy for the first time.
October 1992: I became an All-State Chorus member (and got in all four years of high school).
Sometime in 1993: Got my first kiss, but I don't even remember when.
June 1993: I got dumped by my boyfriend for the first time.
June 1993: Got my learner's driving license.
August 1993: I transitioned to being a resident of Tampa, Florida.
January 1994: I had a sweet sixteen birthday party.
February 1995: Went to a rock concert with my friends for the first time.
May 1995: Went to my boyfriend's senior prom with him. (I did not go to my own senior prom the next year.)
September 1995: Got my first real job (as a pasta server at a restaurant).
September 1995: Lost a family member for the first time (my mom's brother).
January 1996: Turned 18 and transitioned into being a legal adult.
June 1996: Graduated from high school.
June 1996: Got my wisdom teeth out.
July 1996: Quit my first job.
July 1996: Transitioned to being a resident of Gainesville, Florida. Moved out of my parents' home and lived with roommates in an apartment for the first time.
August 1996: Started college as a music major at the University of Florida.
January 1997: Became a vegetarian.
Summer 1997: Traveled on an airplane alone for the first time.
November 1998: Lost a grandparent for the first time (my mom's father).
January 1999: Turned 21 while on a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada.
June 2000: Graduated from college with a BA in Elementary Education.
July 2000: Became a bookstore worker.
August 2000: Got my own apartment and lived alone for the first time.
November 2003: Took my first international trip (Japan).
November 2004: Voted in my first national election.
May 2005: Parents were divorced.
May 2005: My first major interview was published.
June 2006: Transitioned to being a resident of Tampa, Florida (again).
July 2006: Became an administrative assistant.
January 2008: Turned 30.
October 2008: Was maid of honor in Meghan's wedding.
June 2009: Attended a funeral for the first time (my friend Mike from Sarasota).
August 2009: Maid of honor for my sister's wedding.
October 2009: First on-camera interview (for a documentary).
January 2011: Placed an article I wrote in a publication for the first time.
August 2012: Signed a novel with a literary agent.
January 2013: Went to my first conference (to speak on an asexuality panel).
May 2013: Signed a nonfiction book with a literary agent.
September 2013: First radio interview.
November 2013: Sold my first book.
December 2013: Became an aunt (my nephew was born).
February 2014: Gave my first solo speech at a conference (IvyQ at Princeton).
February 2014: Got an advance check for the first time.
May 2014: Sold my first short story ("Your Terms").
May 2014: Participated as a bridesmaid in my other sister's wedding.
June 2014: Traveled internationally (to Canada) alone for the first time.
June 2014: Appeared on live television for the first time.
September 2014: Became a published author of a book (The Invisible Orientation).
February 2015: First trip to the emergency room.
May and June 2015: Received four different book-related awards or nominations at various ceremonies. Attended the Lambda Awards in New York City.
You forgot "Sometime in 1998, met a REALLY COOL girl named Ronni on AOL" ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm kidding. This was fun to read!