Today I am 40.
Actually I prefer to say I am “forty” because it seems a little classier that way.
But no matter how I say or write it, the fact is I’ve lived over half of my life by now.
While I am excited that I finally will be able to walk around saying things like this now…
… I know that I’ll only be able to say it so many times before Tammy starts throwing stuff at me.
Well, I guess I’m freaking forty,
I can’t say that I am thrilled
I never dated Wynona Rider,
I probably never will.
Truth be told, I’m not one of those people who puts much into my birthday or how old I am. In fact there were several years recently where I actually had to think about what my age was because it didn’t matter to me.
Everyone says it, but age truly is just a number to me. I often say that my body may be 40, but my mind is still 17, ask Tammy.
Well I guess I’m freaking forty,
Now all the kids call me old man,
I need glasses and Alka Seltzer and freakin’ prostate exam
I don’t have any problems admitting that I can’t do some things that I could when I was younger, although that doesn’t mean I won’t at least try to do them.
The memory of my Pappaw helped cross the finish line.
My body hasn’t failed me yet, but that’s partially because I know better than to push it like I would have in my 20s and 30s, not that I ever really pushed myself that much away.
I only made it through roughly 30-35 days of P90X. I finished about 75-80% of my training for a half marathon which resulted in me dragging across the finish line of the 2010 St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis.
Well, I guess I’m freaking forty,
I’m a petered out Peter Pan
You wouldn’t know it by being around me, but I actually worry a lot more about my health than I let on.
I love food and I love to eat. I often eat so much that it feels like my stomach is pushing against my lungs.
I can’t tell you how many times someone has told me I should be a lot bigger than I am based on how much (and often) I eat. I guess I inherited my love of food and my high metabolism from my Pappaw.
While I don’t eat quite as bad as I used to, I’m still a sucker for anything fried. Just last week Sonic’s had 50¢ corn dog day and I ate SIX corn dogs, two medium tots and coconut cream pie milkshake…all in one day. I know, right?
Even though my actions show otherwise, I’m actually worried about having a heart attack. Both of my grandfathers had one and so did my Dad, so it’s in my genes and the way I ate through my 30s it’s prolly a lot closer than I realize.
One of my goals is to start running again in hopes that I can help postpone the inevitable because that will be easier than me giving up eating. I also plan to never eat six corn dogs in one day again. (That promise only applies to full-size corn dogs, NOT corn dog nuggets.)
I also worry about things like getting cancer, which also runs in my family, and Alzheimer’s. Yup that’s in my there too.
But instead of spending my time thinking about those types of things, I just try to have fun.
Everyday.
As my former, and current, coworkers can attest, I like to fun at work. I also have fun with Tammy, sometimes so much fun that she can’t stand to be around me it.
I even like have fun with strangers which sometimes causes Tammy to apologize to them. I just think that life’s too short to NOT have fun, to not make people laugh.
Well, I guess I’m freaking forty,
I can’t say that I am thrilled.
But still I’m a buck wild lovin’ cowboy,
I don’t need them little blue pills
Me (r) being a buck wild lovin’ cowboy.
I guess I’m freaking forty
But it ain’t no thang to me
I may have already finished more than half the chapters in my book of life and while I don’t know all of the adventures the upcoming chapters will hold, I know that I’m going to have a good time doing it.
Below is my theme song for the day, Kid Rock’s “Forty” off his Racing Father Time album. This is the live, explicit, version.
If that’s too explicit for you, feel free to check out Jimmy Buffet’s “A Pirate Looks at 40.”
The Life of J-Wo 
Enjoy it! Happy birthday. And enjoy that freakin’ prostate exam.
Unfortunately I’ve already had one of those and I’m not looking forward to any more.
But thanks… I think. 😉
Whew! Glad that’s over! Getting older stinks. If only my body were the same age as my mind. 😉 I’ll make a few Flarp noises at dinner for you tonight in your honor.
Welcome to the 40s! What a lovely little Kid Rock ditty to start the day. Don’t worry about all the “conditions” that run rampant in your family and just try to make good choices. I’ve got a year on you, so hey, at least you’re not THAT old. And we can still type without arthritis!
When I heard that song about a year ago I knew it was going to be a good one…
I think about the bad things in my genes, but I don’t really dwell on them. I prolly should, at least a little, but I DEFINITELY should NOT go around eating 6 corn dogs in one day. haha…
Thanks for the comments and allowing me in the over-40 club. 😉
Happy Birthday! Wait until you hit 50! Make the best of it today!
Thank you!! I’m going to make today a great day… without eating six corn dogs. HAHA…
Don’t fret being 40! I am almost 50! Yikes!
Great reflection!
40 is fabulous darling. Just think, the alternative is death. Giggle, snort!
Embrace it! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!! I’ve now spent 9 months as a 40-year-old and it’s not too bad. I don’t feel any different than I did at 30. In some ways I’m in better shape, but sometimes I look in the mirror and reality slaps me hard. I have more wrinkles and freckles, my skin is sagging under the force of gravity, and in response I’ve started collecting various magic lotions to fight back. But meh…I should just embrace it. Right?
I love your honesty about your fears. All we can do is give our best, and forget the rest. And when I say “best” I don’t mean “perfect”. Perfect doesn’t exist. We all eat a few corn dogs now and again. 😉
Happy belated, J-Wo! Sorry I missed it, was flying out of Midway back East to Maryland to visit family. Having a great time out here, great seeing my nieces and nephews again, especially the little ones.
The girl, Miya, you know, the one who looked “angry tough” in that baby pic you saw, well, she’s more of a total Diva now than a toughie. But, she hates it when you call her a Diva (guess that’s why she IS one!)
Again, happy 40th, man. It’s just a dang number anyway, it’s all how you feel. All the best to Tammy, family, and homies. 🙂
Mike
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Would you rather be grape juice or richly fermented wine? Exactly. Congratulations on being old enough for prostate examinations xD
Thanks… so now I’m fermented… hahahaha…
Hopefully I won’t have to schedule a(nother) prostate exam for a while.
A man’s G-spot is located along the interiors of his rectal canal. Just a fun fact to keep in mind during your next prostate exam xD
I agree that wear what you want.
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