Staring 40 In the Face

...Difficult to admit and even more difficult to say. There's just something about the word "forty" connected to your age. Thirty made my heart skip a beat as I recalled being at a friend's 15th birthday party and saying, "Just think...in 15 more years we'll be 30!!!" Back then it was a lifetime. Forty to me has always meant mature, and on a good day I hope I can fit in that category, but honestly there are days when I still look at my life, my family, my responsibilities, and want to run away. I've decided this may be the year I start subtracting, so for those who are still keeping track, that would make me 38 today. Creative math aside, here I am, staring 40 in the face, loving where I'm at in life, and yet remembering 20 like it was yesterday. Just for fun, I looked up what was going on the year I was born...in case anyone besides me needs a little perspective.

In 1969:

1. The first man walked on the moon.

2. The Beetles gave their last public concert

3. Yes folks, I was born the year of Woodstock!

4. And like it or not, I was born the year Richard Nixon became president.

5. Boeing 747 made its maiden flight.

6. The "halfpence" ceased being legal tender in Britain.

7. (And I know you're all dieing to know this) Wal-Mart incorporated.

8. The Saturday Evening Post printed its last edition.

9. The first troop withdrawals were made from Vietnam.

10. (The best of all) Sesame Street premiered.

And I almost forgot the very, very, very, very best part of the entire day...I blew out all 40 candles in one (big) breath!