I wasn’t feeling old but then reality hit me with a wet trout
This past Saturday was my birthday and you didn’t get me anything. I was fine with the fact that I was turning 40. I reasoned that, the day before, I was 39 and nothing was going to happen in a day to make me feel old. It was just a number change, my next doctor visit would result in a prostate exam, I’d start hitting the treadmill more (and by more, I mean again) and I think my car insurance might get a little cheaper. No big deal. My wife arranged for some friends to come over and help me mark the occasion with some good food, good drink, gifts and black balloons. Usual 40 year-old stuff.
Then at about noon, we got a call that a friend of mine’s dad had died.
And, then, about thirty minutes before the festivities were to start, my mom called to say that dad was on his way to the ER. They were driving to my party when dad’s vision got flaky. He’d had a heart attack. He’s fine now and home. Very minor but, still, gets your attention.
Other than that, it was a good birthday. Catching up with old friends, a nice little get together where we all say we should do this more and then we never do. One of my friends, I hadn’t seen since my wedding. It was good to catch up.
And here I was not fretting about being over the hill when life smacked me right up side the head with a dose of mortality.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:08 am
Hope your dad gets feeling better; I’ve had heart attacks, and they’re no fun.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:14 am
Better a heart attack than a stroke though. My dad’s had both. While I wouldn’t wish either on anyone, he made a full recovery from the heart attack. He’ll be living with the aftereffects of the stroke for the rest of his life.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:20 am
I turned 40 on Sunday, and Saturday my best friend from high school posted that his father had just been killed in an accident.
You’re right, amigo. Turning 40 is more sobering than I thought it would be.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:41 am
Happy Birthday. Glad your dad is ok.
I turned 40 while deployed. 3 friends and a pizza…..woohoo!
Anyway….hope your dad stays ok and you get to consider this birthday as a “life is only 1/3 over” milestone…..
November 1st, 2011 at 11:51 am
Wait until you turn 50. Then your friends will start turning toes up. Yes those same ones that helped you celebrate 40
November 1st, 2011 at 11:59 am
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now…. never occurred to me that you were that young. Sorry to hear about the misfortunes – hope all are well.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Wait until you turn 42 and all of a sudden you start getting pain where you didn’t have it before. On the other hand, there was a survey of centarians a couple of years back, and they rated their best decade as their 70s, so you are not even in your prime yet.
Happy belated Birtday.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:22 pm
We’re not here forever. Nobody else is, either. Make the most of it while you have it.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:09 pm
At 50 you realize that you are in a race to see who dies last. You either change the way you live or stop giving a damn and just enjoy life.
You also get to enjoy the simpler stuff with more joy.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:10 pm
More Bad News, Bro. Just got word that William the Coroner just passed away. Tam’s got the info on her site.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I hope your father’s health continues to progress.
And happy birthday, amigo.
November 1st, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Lifting your family up in prayers.
November 1st, 2011 at 4:54 pm
I turn 55 next year.
STFU.
November 1st, 2011 at 5:14 pm
40? Happy Birthday!
Was that….a while back..
Prostrate? Oh that exam AIN’T BAD!
November 1st, 2011 at 7:24 pm
40? You are a baby. 20 years from now you will look back and realize that 40 is still young.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:33 pm
I’m 45, dad had a heart attack too and it’s not a fun thing. Just hope that he recovers quickly.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
My prayers for your dad……….
Bad news is that over the next decade or two you’ll be attending more funerals than you’d like to think about today….but also some weddings, births, life is like that. Welcome to the new reality…..
And a belated happy birthday.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Oddly, my dad passing away wasn’t the time I felt that “smack upside the head” from mortality. It was after I turned 40 as a matter of fact, I heard that my cousin, mother of five, only six years older and one of my bestest babysitters ever 🙂 was diagnosed with cancer.
I was ready for my parent’s generation to start leaving us; well, “ready” is a relative term here. My dad, two aunts and several uncles are gone. But my cousin, that’s my generation, dammit. That was a gut shot. Too soon.
She beat it in round one, but my mom told me last month that it’s back again.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Also, best wishes to your dad Unc. Was there with mine.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:10 am
First off, happy birthday.
I turn 18 in Feb., so I’m not going to even think about being “old”. However, I do get myself down thinking about how my childhood is gone.
Even at my young age, mortality is on my mind.
I lost an infant sister when I was in third grade, and my dad died of Brain cancer in 2010. He was 55 and one month old, in the best physical shape of his life, and on track to become THE Captain of the Naval Band in DC.
I know I still have many years ahead of me, (Unless I catch a bullet overseas), but with all of the insanity I’m seeing in the world, (Economies collapsing, Occupy Whatever, China sitting on the horizon watching, etc.), I’m not sure I want to face it without guidance from the man I respected and idolized most in all the world.
I try not to complain too much though.
I figure I must’ve done something to piss off the big man upstairs.
I’ve started to ramble, because that’s what I do when 2359 rolls over to 0000, so I’m gonna wrap up this depressive little musing.
Happy Birthday, again.
I’ll be praying for your father, for whatever it’s worth.