How Did This Happen To Me? 
I celebrated my (GULP) 40th birthday yesterday. Boy, is that tough to say (at least for everyone under that age). Turning 40 isn’t really much of a story. As I always tell people, getting old isn’t much of an accomplishment and takes zero talent! The story here is that it occurred to me when I woke up this morning (the day after turning 40) is that I am now closer to 60 than I am to 20! Leave it to me to find the silver lining J How did this ever happen to me? If you’re wondering what the “this” is that I’m referring to, I’m referring to the fact that somehow, some way, along the journey that is life, the dreaded “middle age” completely snuck up on me while I wasn’t paying attention and while I was thinking that I was still 25. I vividly remember when my mother turned 40 (I was 12), I was convinced that she was going to die at any minute, because she was REALLY OLD! I remember feeling badly for my mom because she was so old. I’m happy to report that my mother is alive and well, and will be celebrating her 68th birthday the end of October. I’m the youngest of five children and was always the “baby brother”. The “baby brother” isn’t allowed to get old, right? I’m often reminded of just how old I’m getting when I encounter someone I went to school with who is off visiting colleges with their children. My one and only child will celebrate his 4th birthday later this month. Parenting is a young man’s game, so I can only hope that chasing around a soon to be 4 year old will keep me “young” , even though the calendar is telling me otherwise.
There are moments that I try to convince myself that I’m not really that “old”. Those are the moments when I come to realize that I am a member of the last generation who knows what an 8-track tape is. I’m a member of the last generation who knows what a record or cassette is. I’m a member of the last generation who didn’t grow up with computers in school and everywhere else. I’m a member of the last generation who remembers when “Apple” was an important fruit to consume, and the Sony Walkman was “THE” portable music player. Oh, and I’m a member of the last generation who remembers when Elvis was actually alive. I’m always happy when Brett Favre decides to “un-retire” each season, because he’s the only guy in the NFL who is actually older than I am. By the way Brett, Happy 41st birthday on October 10th (see that, someone is older than I am)!
I’m certain that some of my fellow Active Rainers will weigh in here and tell me that “40 is the new 30”. Now, if I could only convince myself of that. I often hear many say that they would never want to go back and be 25 again. I must admit that I don’t share that sentiment. Being young is a beautiful thing. That said, because I’m no longer 25 (or sadly, even 35), I must hang my hat on the wisdom I’ve acquired along this journey. Getting old has to count for something, right?
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