Happy birthday. Did I ever tell you the story of my dad's 41st birthday dinner?
Mom made dinner and a cake, and we all sat down to eat dad's favorite meal. Now, dad has a reputation for being a stoic, taciturn guy behind a beard, but anyone who knows him knows that he's always got a twinkle in his eye and he might tell the occasional joke, but this time he was somber and just not himself. Mom finally asked him what he was moping about. "I don't know. I'll be OK later. I guess I'm just not ready to turn 40. It feels like I'm getting old." "Well, honey . . . you turned 40 last year, remember? You're 41 now." "OH! Really? I mean I . . . " (obvious mental calculations proceed.) "Hey! I AM 41 now!"
He brightened considerably after that. 41 is just a much smaller psychological hill, I guess. So you've got that going for you. :)
Your body starts its downhill slide at 35. Consider yourself lucky to have lived in ignorant bliss for five years. You'll need reading glasses in 5-10, tri-focals in 20, cataract surgery in 25-30, aspirin for arthritis pains, and who knows what else. Thankfully, alcohol keeps your arteries from clogging! It's like a miracle!
I dreaded 40 and when it happened it was really fun. I'm now looking at fifty next spring and looking forward to it. A good sense of humor is all you need.
Quit crying, I turn 50 in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have a reasonable chance of still having more years ahead of you than behind you.
Youngsters! Hmppph. Have a few drinks and get on with it. Enjoy the day and be a thorn in the side of the man.
ReplyDelete40? Is that all?
ReplyDeleteBuck up youngster, things will only go downhill from there.
Hope you have, or had, a wonderful birthday!
Turned 60 last year... bunch of youngsters.
ReplyDeleteJust wait a couple more decades - 60 comes a whole lot faster.
ReplyDeleteTo Old Jarhead and Legaleagle_45:
I miss the honest discourse with you guys since HuffPost went
Facebook.
Is there another site you can recommend?
JetJocki
Like I said last year... "I'm not 40, I'm 10mm!"
ReplyDeleteDrink a couple of 40's then you'll feel 50 in the morning.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday
Happy Birthday. I have a decade on you. 40 is just the beginning of your life.
ReplyDeleteI'll be 63 in a month, so quitchyerbitchin!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday. Did I ever tell you the story of my dad's 41st birthday dinner?
ReplyDeleteMom made dinner and a cake, and we all sat down to eat dad's favorite meal. Now, dad has a reputation for being a stoic, taciturn guy behind a beard, but anyone who knows him knows that he's always got a twinkle in his eye and he might tell the occasional joke, but this time he was somber and just not himself. Mom finally asked him what he was moping about.
"I don't know. I'll be OK later. I guess I'm just not ready to turn 40. It feels like I'm getting old."
"Well, honey . . . you turned 40 last year, remember? You're 41 now."
"OH! Really? I mean I . . . " (obvious mental calculations proceed.) "Hey! I AM 41 now!"
He brightened considerably after that. 41 is just a much smaller psychological hill, I guess. So you've got that going for you. :)
Your body starts its downhill slide at 35. Consider yourself lucky to have lived in ignorant bliss for five years. You'll need reading glasses in 5-10, tri-focals in 20, cataract surgery in 25-30, aspirin for arthritis pains, and who knows what else. Thankfully, alcohol keeps your arteries from clogging! It's like a miracle!
ReplyDeleteI dreaded 40 and when it happened it was really fun. I'm now looking at fifty next spring and looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteA good sense of humor is all you need.