Being the youngest in my family, it was with more than a little amusement that I watched each of my older siblings turn 40 while I remained comfortably in my youth.
I knew that I would get there someday, but it always seemed a long way off. Even when my sister turned 40 and I was 37, that was no big deal because I was still in my mid-thirties, right?
Well, I hit 40 a few months ago. It was with little fanfare, although I think Lois would have thrown a big party if not for my utter indifference.
I was 18 when I noticed my first grey hairs. The greys have slowly multiplied since then, but that doesn't really bother me. But one thing that has become increasingly distressing to me as I've approached 40 is the way my eyebrows are growing. Like most people, I've had eyebrows pretty much since birth and they've always sort of maintained themselves. But now they require trimming. I do not understand this. I ignored it for a while, but one day it just became painfully clear that something had to be done. It occurred to me that an eyebrow is pretty much just a mustache for your forehead. So I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, set my beard trimmer to one, said a quick prayer and trimmed those suckers. That worked like a charm. Well, a charm that you might find in a cheap souvenir shop, but a charm nonetheless.
It wasn't until after I turned 40 that I started thinking about what would be a good midlife crisis. When it comes to cars, I really just want something efficient and comfortable to get me from point A to point B, although a Harley would do that nicely. But no, I'm happy with my current transportation. I did indulge myself in what many people might rightly call the lamest midlife crisis ever. I don't know exactly how it happened. I don't even drink. But I inexplicably developed a taste for karaoke. So after some minimal research, I bought a mixer, some mics, and some other miscellaneous hardware to turn my computer into a pretty decent karaoke system. On Thanksgiving we were all rock stars and got jiggy with it. Are you allowed to have more than one midlife crisis? Because I figure I might live to be 90, so that gives me another good five years to settle on a really good one that involves a little less Neil Diamond.
I don't really feel old, although I do have less energy than I used to. My waist is still pretty much the same size as it has been since high school (never mind that it might be a bit lower now). But there's one thing that helps me know that I'm really not old yet. When I get dressed every morning, instead of sitting down to put on my socks, I balance on my left foot to put my right sock on, then I balance on my right foot to put my left sock on. Can you imagine an old man putting his socks on while standing? No, it just isn't done. There may come a day when I fall over during the attempt and break my hip, but until then I'm still young. Meanwhile, I just need to figure out what to do about this ear and nose hair.
It wasn't until after I turned 40 that I started thinking about what would be a good midlife crisis. When it comes to cars, I really just want something efficient and comfortable to get me from point A to point B, although a Harley would do that nicely. But no, I'm happy with my current transportation. I did indulge myself in what many people might rightly call the lamest midlife crisis ever. I don't know exactly how it happened. I don't even drink. But I inexplicably developed a taste for karaoke. So after some minimal research, I bought a mixer, some mics, and some other miscellaneous hardware to turn my computer into a pretty decent karaoke system. On Thanksgiving we were all rock stars and got jiggy with it. Are you allowed to have more than one midlife crisis? Because I figure I might live to be 90, so that gives me another good five years to settle on a really good one that involves a little less Neil Diamond.
I don't really feel old, although I do have less energy than I used to. My waist is still pretty much the same size as it has been since high school (never mind that it might be a bit lower now). But there's one thing that helps me know that I'm really not old yet. When I get dressed every morning, instead of sitting down to put on my socks, I balance on my left foot to put my right sock on, then I balance on my right foot to put my left sock on. Can you imagine an old man putting his socks on while standing? No, it just isn't done. There may come a day when I fall over during the attempt and break my hip, but until then I'm still young. Meanwhile, I just need to figure out what to do about this ear and nose hair.
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