Turning 40

When my mom called me on my birthday last year, she started the call with “Next year you turn 40!” My immediate response was, “I know! And I’m going to throw a big party!”

I was very proud of my reaction … and that it has held throughout the year! I looked forward to beginning a new decade, and I did just that over the weekend.

I credit my mom with giving me such a positive outlook on age. While I was growing up, she added years to her age with the logic that if she subtracted years, she would look like hell for that age, but she looked FABULOUS for being five years older than her chronological age.  While I have never added years to my age, as an adult I’ve always openly embraced it. Twenty-five was rough, a quarter of century and all, but that was the only one that hit me hard. Thirty was wonderful, and Forty is fantastic so far!!!

Having a year to think about it, I ultimately decided that I wanted the day not to be about me. I started the morning attending a Red Cross volunteer orientation (more on this in a future blog!), and that night, I thanked some of my friends for being an important part of my life by taking them out to dinner.

[Author’s note: What a crock of poo!!!! Ever since I was a shy little kid who never wanted to be the center of attention, birthday’s were my chance to enjoy basking in the spotlight without feeling guilty or self-conscious!  That is still very much the case. Yes, over time I have learned that it doesn’t diminish my glow to share it with others, but the inner child in me definitely comes out in force this day every year! Now that I’ve corrected the HUGE wrong of having the narrator bold-face lie to you, we will return to the regularly scheduled blog post!]

What is a birthday without the cake … and candles! On regular birthdays (i.e. ones that don’t end in a 5 or 0), I will accept a token candle. So not the case at my party this year:

I earned the admiration of the group by being able to blow out all the candles in a single breath, and for wearing my inner child on the outside:

In looking around at the group, I was impressed by the span of my life that was covered. Several were close friends who I met in high school, others through my faith, still others from dance, and some that blurred categories. They ranged in age from their 30s to 80s. This is the family that I have created for myself (that were local(ish) and could make it!) – and not that there is anything wrong with the family I was born into!!!!! All of these people make my life better by being a part of it and simply for being who they are. They were even willing to humor me when I wanted a picture taken in homage of the one I had introducing DH2U:

I am so honored that I was able to start the latest phase in my life with these people. They were an important part of my past … and hopefully my future.

PS Did I mention I ❤ birthdays?!?!?!?!?