Tomorrow, I hit the "big 40". Forty years of age, as of 6:30am Thursday.
Why is it that birthdays like this are called "the big" anything? 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 65? Well, for someone to turn 100 is cause for celebration, but why the others?
16 - in most states, this is the age when you can get a drivers' license. Big deal, since you - at that age - are among the most dangerous drivers in the country. More motor vehicle accidents are caused by teen drivers than the second-most criticized age group, the elderly.
18 - In most states, when you turn 18, you are no longer considered a minor. But guess what, you still can't vote.
21 - Now you are of legal age to drink alcohol. Chances are, you have been doing so since you were at least 16. The best celebration you could do for your 21st is to not try to get into a bar using an ID that says you're a 45-year-old Chinese man.
30 - If you haven't died an early death from alcohol poisoning since your 21st birthday, then I suppose turning 30 is worth a small celebration. But, otherwise, it's really just a reminder that you're 10years away from being 40. Most 30-year-olds I've known were still as socially and personally immature as they were when they were 18.
40 - Most 40-year-olds are more mature than they were 10 years prior. Probably the most significant thing about turning 40 is the reminder that there is only 15+-years until retirement age, so get cracking on that 401k or Roth IRA before it's too late!
65 - The commonly-accepted age of retirement, although the federal government now expects people my age to work until at least 67. So, 65? Just another work day now...
What am I planning to do on my birthday? Work a full shift at the office, then have a couple of adult beverages at home and hang out with my oldest dog while my wife goes to a puppy class out of town. I suppose I should be more "woo-hoo" about turning 40, but it's going to be just another Thursday.
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