40...where is thy sting?

Today is my 40th birthday. Guess what...it ROCKS!! I thought I'd hate turning 40, but I'm having an amazingly good day. What makes the difference? Good friends, good family, and learning to laugh.

I've gotten tons of well-wishes on Facebook, through emails, and text messages. I woke up to a bunch of chocolate chip cookies and two big ones made into a 40 for me. (With a note that it's perfectly acceptable to eat cookies for breakfast on a birthday.) I've gotten random presents (bunny ears, a Queers pin, a magazine for making crafts, and some always welcome cash!) beautiful and funny cards, and a bevy of eulogies.

Tonight friends who are in town will drop by for a cupcake. They get to vote on the eulogies I've received and the winner gets a prize. Then I'll collect them all into a zine and send them out for everyone to read.

I was so sure that 40 was going to suck. But it doesn't. I'm happier than I have been in a while; I know what direction my life is going in. I'm happy as myself.

It took me a few years to get here...but I'm more aware of who I am than I have ever been.

I like it.