Happy Birthday to Me

Today, January 27th, 2009, I turn 40 years old.

For many years when I was single I relied on a couple of friends to help me celebrate my birthday (I called them the "Birthday Rescuers"). When I've been in a relationship, I counted on The Boyfriend. This time I didn't want to rely on anyone else to make my celebration for me. I decided months ago that I didn't want this birthday to slink in under the cover of darkness, so on Saturday night, with the help of friends, I threw myself a birthday party. I pushed the furniture to the sides of the living room, and laid in a load of ice and chips, and hoped that people would come and, as my invitation said, "make my 40th birthday not lame".

It worked! There was a good mix - people I run with, people I work with, people I play hockey with, and other uncategorized but equally welcome folks. Some brought food, some brought wine or beer, a few brought presents, and it seems like all enjoyed themselves. I even had a birthday cake! (Thanks for that, K). There was music, food, conversation, mixing and mingling of people from different categories, touring of my house, spilling of red wine all over my kitchen (Thanks for that, K), and staying up until 2am. It was a good party.

There was also a lot of talk about my big plans. Some people at the party have known about the trip plans for ages, but some only found out in the last few days when I finally made my intentions known at work. Universally, though, people thought is was a cool and exciting idea.


And suddenly it's real. The last important people - those at work - know about the plan. Ironically though, there hasn't been a big Moment of Decision. It seems the road to this point has been made up of a series of tiny steps, not one earth shattering kaboom. Now it's almost as if momentum has taken over.

So I'm quite fine with the idea of being 40, perhaps because I'm not clicking over into a new decade with nothing to show. I have a successful career, a great bunch of friends, a nice house, and a loving family. It also helps that people keep telling me there's no way I look like I'm 40 years old.

And I have a PLAN.