So, this Sunday I'm turning 27.

How dull.

No major milestone to celebrate, no cause for excitement.

Maybe groans, but nothing more. Probably a lot less.

Growing older is getting a lot scarier. Especially when I realize that the high school athletes I interview are more than 10 years younger than I am.

Ouch! It doesn't feel that long ago that I was one of them.

When I was younger, birthdays were all about the parties. But then Slip N' Slide and Super Soakers gave way to specific requests for gifts (I love online wish-lists) and Seven Jeans.

At age 18, I was legal to vote. The golden age of 21 was about access to the better clubs. I don't drink, so the alcoholic aspect of reaching that age wasn't as appealing to me.

I'm trying to find something fun or momentous about turning 27.

At one time I believed I would be married by 26, hopefully have my first child by 29 or so. The second would follow two or three years later. I imagined living in a cute home, preparing lavish dinners every night.

Obviously, it didn't happen.

It's strange how you can have your entire life mapped out in front of you, until you actually start living it, and then you realize that it's a lot harder than you dreamt it would be.

I didn't factor in going to school, getting a job, trying to find my soul mate. None of that seemed important when I was imagining what tiny clothes I would be picking out for my infant child.

But so what if bill-paying and daily exercise got in the way of jumpstarting all that I should've done years ago, according to my master plan? Even though I haven't accomplished everything I thought I wanted, what I wanted changed as I got older — and wiser.

I'm viewing the first 27 years of my life as practice — a really long trial-and-error period where I could see what I truly want, and what I definitely don't.

While some of my closest friends are already married, some with children, I don't feel ready for it yet. So why wish for it?

I don't need to have specific ages in mind as deadlines for events when I think about what my future could be. I'll just celebrate turning 27 as being the beginning of everything I want.

I'm off to a good start. I have a fabulous job — I get to watch sports for a living — and a wonderfully special guy. Most importantly I'm really, truly happy, so I'm not exactly failing at life.

I don't care that I'm not rocking a huge ring on my finger. Mom can wait to be a grandma.

The whole dinner thing I'm definitely conceding. If I don't, I might not make it another 27 years.

I'm actually glad things didn't go according to plan. What's going on now is much better.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.