Friday, June 08, 2007

40 Candles

I was born on June 8, 1967, so today is my 40th birthday. Everybody keeps asking me how I feel about turning 40. I can't say I'm happy about it, but it sure beats the alternative. After dinner last night Michael took me to the cafe where we had our first date for coffee. As we were chatting, out of the corner of my eye I noticed what looked suspiciously like my D.C. sister-in-law, Jacqueline, and my AZ nephew, AJ, walking across Ninth Avenue. No sooner had I processed this did I see my entire family -- mom Molly, stepdad Gary, brother Terence, sister Jennifer, brother-in-law Anthony and baby niece Ally from Arizona, and brother Bill from D.C. -- in the crosswalk, all here to surprise me for the big 4-0. (It was quite a sight!) As the evening went on and the delicious chocolate cake from Billy's Bakery was being cut, I had an unusual moment of clarity: My boyfriend, Michael, is a sweetheart. I have my dream job. I have a lot of really great friends. And my family loves me enough to do something this crazy and special for me (Molly doesn't "get" New York, so this is HUGE!). Like I said, I'm not happy about turning 40 (hey, who ever is?). But I can't think of a better way to do it than being surrounded by the people I love most.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

happy birthday! hope you have a good one.

James said...

Happy b-day. I love that Billy's cake!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday. Have a good one. You look fantastic!

Anonymous said...

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNETH! Reading this made my day -- it's wonderful that life is good to you.

I think when we're thankful for what we have, the universe responds in kind. That's my new-age bon mot for the day.

Wishing you all the best,
Michele

P.S.: I've known you far too long!

T.J. Ian said...

Have a great birthday! Thanks for sharing your life with us on your blog!

Anonymous said...

What a great surprise from the family! A very, very happy birthday... and let me know how it goes the 4-0 is creeping up on me too!

dpaste said...

Welcome to the 40's. It's not such a bad place. It's where you get to defy people's expectations of what 40 looks like.

And you sound like one lucky fellow to me. Never take it for granted.

Richard said...

Welcome to the 40s. Its not a bad place. Just remember you have to check the next box to the right when filling out surveys.

Random Thinker said...

Happy Birthday. Welcome to the Over-40 club!

Editor said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KENNETH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

...and many more...

Welcome, to the fabulous forties!

xo

QTC

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the 40's club!! Have a great Birthday!

Seb

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Kenny! What a great surprise... Michael is a sweetie. Enjoy your special day!!

Anonymous said...

Now see, that is the difference between you and me. If I saw my family descending upon me on my 40th birthday, I would have run out the back of the cofffe shop. Happy Birthday, Kenneth in the 212. Hope to see you soon before your face starts to wrinkle up.

SE@N said...

Happy Birthday...Keep on blogging.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Imagine being 40, and looking young like you do, getting carded. It ios fun. Happy Birthday again.

Brechi said...

Happy birthday - have cake and eat it too!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday. I will be turning 40 in December. So will there be pictures of the traditional birthday spanking posted soon? :)

~N~ said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Big Canadian Hug and Kiss!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday from one of your blog readers in Southern California!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday from Argentina

Anonymous said...

Life is a gift. Every year you are here on earth, should be a CELEBRATION of life.

Life is temporary as we are really from The Other Side anyway.

But why you are here on earth, enjoy every wonderful aspect of life!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM CA!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

I hope that when I turn 30 next year, I'm 0.75 as much as you are now. ;)

J. David Zacko-Smith said...

Happy 40th!

I turn 40 next July, and my partner turns 50, AND it'll be our 10th anniversary next May. I'm already planning a massive party and a trip to Mexico with family and friends to celebrate all three.

Anonymous said...

Well, let me add my birthday wishes to the list!

But wait...40? You so don't look it!

May you find something great to do to mark the big day.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! I hope you're having fun with the family...

Love, Carnie, I mean, Mark (LMFAO by the way!!!)

ScottInTheDesert said...

best wishes for many more healthy and happy ones!

i had my 53rd a couple of months ago - everything hurts more, but it does indeed beat the alternative.

cheers.

William said...

Happy Birthday!!!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend of celebrations!

Deeoshaythree said...

A very happy birthday Kenneth! 40? You don't look a day over 21, I tell you. ;)

Karim said...

Happy b-day!

Rick said...

Happy Birthday from the Bayou City with big, wet, and sloppy kisses from me and my girls.

Jim Hopkins said...

Wow! 40! I hope I look as good as you do when I hit that mark in [short pause while he removes size-11 shoes to do math] 19 years!

TJ said...

Happy B-Day! All the best and really 40 is nothing, just wait it truly only gets better if you let it.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Kenneth!!! now that you realize you have so many great friends, family and Michael, great job and so much more, you'll find that you've just begun living (and being more open to cliches!) Have a great Birthday celebration tonight!

Danny

Unknown said...

You'll always be in your mid-20s to me, Kenneth! What a wonderful surprise gift you got; what a wonderful guy you are. Happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!!
You look so young..not like 40.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Kenneth in the 212, from Kevin in the 323. I am a big fan of your blog and especially liked what you wrote today about your birthday perspective. I'm a year ahead of you on the "oh crap, 40?" bus, so I have felt your pain. Thanks for the reminder about appreciating all the good stuff. Besides, everyone keeps saying 40 is the new 30. I don't know what that means, but if I can have back the metabolism I had ten years ago, then I'll take it - and a piece of your birthday cake, too.

Anonymous said...

Hey Kenneth!

Belated Happy Birthday! That was an amazing surprise Michael had in store for you! So nice of your family to come to NY to celebrate the big 4-0! Don't worry about that number, you know what they say 'wine gets better with age!'

Cheers!
Tommy

Anonymous said...

Hope you have a great day and a great year! You don't look a day over 25! And what a great surprise -- Molly and the rest of the gang in the Big Apple -- how sweet!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday from a Michigan reader!

Thanks for all the great writing!!

Chuck

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!! What a lovely post! Hope your year is awesome!

sam-i-am said...

We have the same birthday! A few years apart, but nonetheless, that's exciting. Hope yours was fantastic and that the year to come is just as fabulous

Anonymous said...

Happy belated 40th!

Cheers
Damian

Unknown said...

These are the BEST years of your life...make sure you enjoy each day!

thanks for all that you do for us!

Happy Birthday!

Tony(nyc)

shawn said...

Happy birthday! Kenneth!
Who's first time messege from Tokyo, thanks for your blog I enjoying always,
Shawn

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNETH!

youre A GORGEOUS 40!

Anonymous said...

Now that's a happy birthday! Welcome to the 40's! It's not so bad...really!