The one where we all turn 30

"Friends" is my favorite show of all time. I've watched each episode literally dozens of times, and each time I wrap up season 10, I start over at the beginning.

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Well, right now I'm making my way through season 7, and yesterday I watched "The One Where They All Turn 30."

This season aired roughly 13 years ago. When it first hit the airwaves, I would have been 17. Back then, and even until recently, I remember watching that episode (and the whole series, really) thinking, Wow, these people lead such interesting lives. Look at all the life experiences they have. Now, trust me, I realize they are TV characters and not real people. And I know it's not fair to compare your own life to the lives that are depicted on TV, but it is a startling revelation that I am now the age of those characters.

Well, almost.

I'll be 30 in eight months and 10 days.

But it's really something to think about. This show, as is the same with all television shows, is frozen in time. For the past almost 20 years, since the show's inception in 1994, I've been growing toward those characters. Granted, I didn't watch "Friends" when I was 10 — most likely I started watching around the time they all turned 30. But for 13 years, I've been shaping into someone that age.

But now, I am that age. These shows are taking place in the time in the lives of those characters that I am in right now. It's just odd to think about, and you may be thinking, Yes, Shannon, it is odd that you're thinking about it. But for some reason, it just hit me.

From this point forward, essentially, I'll be growing away from those characters. As in, they'll always be no more than 33, but Lord willing, my life will move into phases these fictional people never dealt with. Not that I looked to them for advice. Again, I know they're not real.

But this show is my favorite show. It's still my favorite show, and it's been off the air for 10 years. I still watch and laugh at each episode and get overly excited when I make it to one of my favorites — as if I couldn't skip ahead if I wanted to.

I don't think that will change. But 13 years from now, when I'm 43, can I really see myself watching and laughing? Probably. Because, Chandler isn't going to be any less cute or any less funny. And Monica won't be any less anal.

That's the good thing about TV. You can always count on your favorite characters to be who they've always been despite who you are or who you've become.