I celebrated my 40th birthday this week. Woo-hoo. Everyone asks me if I feel different. I don’t. I almost forgot the whole thing to be honest. I think the kids were more excited than I was. They were so excited in fact that I didn’t even get to blow out my own candles. After singing “Happy Birthday” my three year old launched himself up onto the table for fear that someone might blow before him. Now, anyone who has seen a three year old blow out candles knows that they essentially just spit on the cake to “blow” out the candle. There was so much spittle that if we were being honest it would have to be listed as a major ingredient. I asked my wife for a piece from the other side of the cake but I’m still unsure if that happened.
But my birthday did cause me to self-reflect a wee bit. Not the deep-brooding-wallowing kind that you lock yourself in your room and listen to classic rock on headphones. But the kind that nibbles at the end of your mind and makes you pause between buttering waffles in the morning. That kind.
My birthday has been a time of comparing the expectations I had for myself versus the actualities. Needless to say the two don’t exactly coincide. For example, here’s a list of things I’d thought I’d need as an adult.
Jetpack
These, of course, are the things I actually do need:
Diapers
So as you can see, either I was a very dopey kid or I’m a really under-performing adult. I’m going with dopey kid. But my life didn’t turn out as I expected in so many ways. But whose life does? My goodness, twenty years ago I didn’t even think I’d be married, never mind have five children (so far).
But it seems that when we’re planning out our lives like a movie script we see ourselves as the center of the drama; the hero overcoming obstacles. Hey, we’re the star around whom all things orbit. But we fail to take everything into account. I don’t think we ever see love coming. I don’t mean it in the sappy “Pride and Prejudice” way. We all expect that. I mean the kind of love you can’t compartmentalize in your life. The kind that allows you to accept not being the star of your own movie anymore. I’ve realized that I’m a supporting player in my own movie. And I’m OK with that. I’m much more concerned with the very small and very cute prima donnas around me. I spend my days alternately as a key grip (whatever they do), a teamster, and the caterer. But love has a way of making it not a big deal that things are not about you. In short, love has a way of making you not mind you don’t have a jet pack.
P.S. I still think I may get the night vision goggles though. They’re only $70 at Amazon. How cool is that?
November 14, 2008 at 3:06 am
Hope you have a Happy Birthday. Enjoy reading your blog.
November 14, 2008 at 3:15 am
Many happy returns of the day! I was going to call my husband over and have him read this post, until you mentioned the relative affordability of night vision goggles…. 😉
November 14, 2008 at 5:52 am
Happy birthday, Matthew! I, too, will celebrate my 40th birthday soon. Clearly, 1968 was an auspicious year to be born. 🙂
The night vision goggles are cool–but I’d rather have the jetpack. Only it would need a spacious trunk, and room for the kids, and…
…dang. We’re right back to minivan.
Or are we?:
http://www.terrafugia.com/landing.html
November 14, 2008 at 10:23 am
Matthew – congratulations and GOD’s blessings – I also turned 40 earlier this year. However, forget minivan; we drive a 15-seater :-))))
Just letting you know what might be coming.
Blessings, Mom26
November 14, 2008 at 11:08 am
I passed 40 a while back, but there is really something to be said for a 15 seater or even (currently) a 12 seater becausese you get to sit up so high and there is the intimidation factor also Jeff
November 14, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Happy birthday, sir. Love the blog.
Also, if you’re only getting one, I’d choose the jetpack over the night-goggles.
Steve
November 14, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Just found this blog and I love this first post. Must keep reading!
Get the goggles; think how educational they’ll be for the kids. 🙂
November 14, 2008 at 2:04 pm
A very, very Happy Birthday to you!
November 14, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Happy Birthday, Matthew, you young whippersnapper! (you’d be surprised at how young 40 sounds when you’re 43 as myself!)
November 14, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I know what you mean about the movie script of one’s life. Mine? Less “Braveheart,” more “Weekend at Bernie’s.”
Happy 40!
November 14, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Happy birthday, kiddo, and God bless!
November 14, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Yesterday was my birthday. I hit 33. You can also ge thte night vision goggles at Target for less than $100. I think maybe $75. You could pick them up when you go to buy diapers next. Just casually swing by the toy aisle. They’re near the nerf dart guns.
November 14, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Happy, happy birthday! Hope you had a great day. I had a nice spitty cake this week as well, though I was blessed by little ones spitting from both sides of the table ensuring the whole cake was covered. Remember, moth and rust corrupt your night goggles and thieves can break in and steal your jetpack but those blessings in diapers are forever.
November 14, 2008 at 4:59 pm
And if they stole my jetpack I’d be giving them their getaway vehicle as well.
November 14, 2008 at 5:07 pm
How did that saying go?….”if you want to make God laugh tell him about your plans for the next 5 years”.
I turned 39 a few days ago. Still 12 months to go for the crisis.
Night goggles are great for changing nappies in the middle of the night without waking up the rest of the gang. (You owe me one).
November 14, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Happy belated birthday Matthew. BTW, you could use the goggles to change the diapers in the dark and the jet pack to dispose of the toxic waste. Just a thought.
November 14, 2008 at 10:16 pm
A jetpack to the garbage seems like overkill but any excuse to use it. I’m game.
November 14, 2008 at 11:19 pm
It’s nice to turn any age when you feel comfortable about where you are and where you’re headed.
On a lighter note, as far as minivans are concerned I recommend the Toyota Sienna.