Jan 18 2008

On Turning 40

Published by at 4:43 pm under random

40th birthday

Life begins at forty…
Forty is the new thirty…
After 40 your body has a mind of it’s own….
Forty happens…
I’m Forty, what’s your excuse…
Forty – the ultimate F-Word…
40 – I demand a recount…

In case you haven’t guessed, I am turning forty. Tomorrow.

How can that be? I don’t feel forty. I’m told that I don’t look forty (admittedly by people who may have an ulterior motive 😉 ). Heck, I’m still working out what I want to be when I grow up! But, the birth certificate doesn’t lie.

So I turned to the web for inspiration, as you do, and found this gem by Jacqueline Foley – The truth about Turning 40.

If turning 40 is so great then how come people who supposedly love you give you cards that say things like: “You’re 40? From now on life will be a breeze…and your boobs will be blowing in it!” or “Happy 40th and remember you’re only young once…so how was it?”

😀 I sincerely hope I don’t get any of those cards.

40 just sounds so old! I know women in their 40’s are still having kids. I also know I am NOT the oldest mother in the kindergarten class (I was subtle when I was interrogating casually mentioning it to my daughter’s class mates at her party).

And I suppose if I’m feeling funny about turning 40, I should spare a thought for my mum – whose youngest daughter is turning 40.

Just before Christmas I attended a 50th birthday party, which had 52 adult guests. When the time came around for the speeches the birthday “boy” proceeded to say, “For my birthday I just have 52 wishes“.

I thought he was joking at first, until he went on to name every guest and one of their virtues. For example “I wish I had the patience of Mary, the generosity of Bill….”. I thought it was such a lovely gesture that it choked me up, before he even got to me.

I’m not going to do such a list here, but looking back at my last 40 years, and my life at present, I do have a lot to be thankful for.

  • a great relationship
  • four wonderful, bright, healthy children
  • two wonderful, bright, healthy step-children
  • two supportive, wise parents
  • a great immediate and extended family
  • a sweet grandmother
  • a small group of terrific friends
  • good health – mine and my family’s
  • a privileged upbringing
  • all my basic needs are met – roof over my head, food and clothing
  • flexibility of being self employed
  • what’s left of my figure and appearance 😉
  • the great people that stop by here from time to time

If my next 40 years can be as fulfilling and pleasant, then I will die a happy woman.

Thanks to Cafepress for some of the slogans.

30 responses so far

30 Responses to “On Turning 40”

  1. # Phileeepon 18 Jan 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Well Happy Birthday for tomoz Meg 😀

    Here’s hoping you get breakfast in bed!

    Phil

  2. # John Lampardon 18 Jan 2008 at 4:52 pm

    Happy birthday – 40 is the new 25 😉

    John Lampard’s last blog post..Have WordPress themes killed web designers?

  3. # Gueraon 18 Jan 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Heppy Birthday Meg!

    Hope you have a great day and get spoiled rotten!

    Guera’s last blog post..Book Review – Blind Faith by Ben Elton

  4. # Karen (Misc Mum)on 18 Jan 2008 at 6:08 pm

    Happy Birthday, hon. That was a great thing your friend did at his party – that would’ve had me bawling.

    Have a great day xx

    Karen (Misc Mum)’s last blog post..Ernest Hemingway – the quotes #1

  5. # Katieon 18 Jan 2008 at 6:16 pm

    Happy birthday for tomorrow! Forty is just a number – enjoy your day and milk it for all it’s worth. I hope you have a fantastic birthday and get spoiled rotten!

    Katie’s last blog post..WCB: Little Miss Spoiled

  6. # Sarah Stokelyon 18 Jan 2008 at 6:40 pm

    Happy birthday. :)

    Sarah Stokely’s last blog post..Corral CPU Hogs with Process Lasso

  7. # Gregon 18 Jan 2008 at 7:04 pm

    Happy birthday to you for tomorrow. Hope you have a good one!

    From what i hear 40 is the new 30 !

  8. # Jayneon 18 Jan 2008 at 7:24 pm

    Happy Birthday Meg ! :)
    Hope you have a good one 😉

    Jayne’s last blog post..PLUG THE PIPE PROTEST

  9. # Lighteningon 18 Jan 2008 at 7:30 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ME-EG!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! How’s that? I didn’t hit a wrong note ONCE!!! Gotta love silent singing. Accompanied of course by the clack clack of the keyboard. :-)

    Hey, I solved the getting older problem. I hang out with people older than me so I ALWAYS feel young no matter how old I am. Except for the guy I married….he’s my toy boy!!! *sigh* Which has it’s advantages but making you feel young isn’t one of them 😉

    Anyway, have a great day and party hard!!! You only turn 40 once in a lifetime! :-)

    Lightening’s last blog post..A Roaming Aussie Mum

  10. # Craig Harperon 18 Jan 2008 at 9:40 pm

    Happy Birthday Meg,
    40 is just your biological age. Have a great day tomorrow!

    Craig Harper’s last blog post..The Value of Criticism

  11. # Babyamoreon 19 Jan 2008 at 12:03 am

    Happy birthday 40 is great all down hill from here and no more hills to climb or hurdles to cross LOL
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ME-EG!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! it is 12.01 am
    wonderful post – I like the guy who turned 50 idea too.

    Babyamore’s last blog post..Help us Mummy is a Top Momma contender

  12. # alyndabearon 19 Jan 2008 at 5:14 am

    Wishing you a fantastic birthday — I know you’ll have a cracker of a year!

    alyndabear’s last blog post..Proudly Announcing…

  13. # Johon 19 Jan 2008 at 6:26 am

    Happy Birthday Meg,

    40 is awesome. I’m confident you will notice. There’s lots of laughs about it, but really, I’m often thinking, What’s not to love about being 40?

    I hope you have a great day.

    Joh’s last blog post..New Year, New Address

  14. # Colin Campbellon 19 Jan 2008 at 6:48 am

    40 seems quite a while ago. I had my party in Singapore. Less than two years to 50. Hope it was great.

    Colin Campbell’s last blog post..What I did not do at the Office Today

  15. # jenon 19 Jan 2008 at 8:18 am

    Hi Meg, you have a fantastic 40th. I’m now 41 so can relate to some of what you’re feeling.

    jen’s last blog post..Basil pesto

  16. # Megon 19 Jan 2008 at 11:35 am

    Thanks so much everyone. It eases the pain somewhat 😉

  17. # Tiffanyon 19 Jan 2008 at 1:06 pm

    Happy birthday Meg!
    Hope you have a fabulous day.

  18. # Kelleyon 19 Jan 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Happy Birthday my lovely.

    Hope you are having a wonderful day and the good fairy comes to visit 😉

    Kelley’s last blog post..I’m having a sleepover!

  19. # Meg's SiSon 19 Jan 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Happy Birthday, baby sister!
    Now everyone knows for sure I’m also over 40! You just had to mention you were the youngest daughter… 😉
    For me, each year over 40 has been very full and rewarding, such as my latest experience working in Hong Kong. Yes, life begins at 40.

  20. # Rodney Olsenon 19 Jan 2008 at 10:04 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

    I hope it’s been a great one for you and that you’ve been surrounded by people who love you.

    Rodney Olsen’s last blog post..I’ve talked enough about me …

  21. # Gary Barberon 19 Jan 2008 at 10:10 pm

    Being another 40+ person I totally relate to everything you have said…

    Gary Barber’s last blog post..Ideas 4 – Accessibility, Usability and Web Startups

  22. # Ianon 20 Jan 2008 at 12:14 am

    Happy birthday (for yesterday now). I passed 40 a few years ago now, and it didn’t faze me at all (unlike 30 which was when I thought I was getting really old). 40’s are great … I’ve had career change, travel and a whole lot of other good stuff in them. Hope you enjoyed your birthday.

    Ian’s last blog post..Look what I found under my desk

  23. # Lozon 20 Jan 2008 at 9:48 pm

    And a Happy Birthday from one who turned 50 in 2007. Don’t blink or before you know it…

    Loz’s last blog post..Carol’s Blogging Meme

  24. # Anne Maybuson 21 Jan 2008 at 6:52 am

    Happy birthday! I hope your day was wonderful. Turning 40 is a liberating experience. Somehow it justifies you doing and saying things that you never would have in your 30’s! Be ready for some fun.

  25. # Burgoon 21 Jan 2008 at 10:18 am

    Sigh… belated, but happy birthday nonetheless Meg… hope you had a great one!

    Burgo’s last blog post..Counting Crows – Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

  26. # Leighon 21 Jan 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Happy belated Birthday Meg :( Sorry I have been a bit puterless this week.

    I hope you had a super wonderful day with lots of spoiling :)

    Leigh’s last blog post..52 things I ♥- week 3

  27. # Shai Cogginson 21 Jan 2008 at 4:53 pm

    Happy belated birthday, Meg. Hope you had a fabulous day!

    Shai Coggins’s last blog post..Note to Self: Just Give It a Go

  28. # Gavin Heatonon 21 Jan 2008 at 10:35 pm

    Sorry I am late to the party! Hope you had a great day!

  29. # Megon 21 Jan 2008 at 10:40 pm

    Appreciating all the belated wishes (ah, if your feedreaders are anything like mine….) – thanks everyone :)

  30. # Sueblimelyon 23 Jan 2008 at 6:47 am

    Happy belated birthday – my feedreader keeps asking me if I want to press the panic button! Not sure what will happen if I do so I have not tried it – I have visions of feeds exploding all over my desk!

    Being in my 50’s I can only say you have a lot to look forward to :-)