Turning 40: A Mini-Dynasty of Ancient History

[WSUCougar]

It looms like a vast, dark thunderhead on the horizon, sweeping ever closer as the winds begin to pick up and spits of icy rain begin to pelt down upon my upturned face. Doom creeps onward, inexorably marching in step with the sands falling through the hourglass of time. Or something like that.

As you may have figured out by now, I'm turning 40 in the all-too-near future (a little over a week) and thought it might be kinda fun to do a mini-dynasty based on my experiences. Despite the gloomy outlook, the mood will be light. I will expect to catch some - nay, plenty - plenty of crap. But secure with the delusional wisdom of old age, it won't bother me a lick.

A little background to start. I consider myself young at heart. My wife, perhaps with loving eyes, says I look young for my age. Previous ages haven't bothered me at all. I blew through 30 without batting an eye. In mindset, I'm still in my early thirties.

Nevertheless, the thought of 40 bothers me somewhat. I think it's my association with pro athletes, and the notion that 40=ancient and over-the-hill with MLB and NFL players.

I also don't like how quickly time passes as you get older. The days/weeks/months/years fly by. I love life and have a lot of reasons why, but every now and then I get this scary sense that my life is whizzing by me at too fast a speed.

And then there's my greatest fear about this whole subject: I hate the idea of getting "old" and losing my faculties.

So anyway, there's some groundwork for this puppy. I'll be adding some things as the days go by, whether it's comments from friends, activities, whatever. Feel free to chip in with commentary. I can take it.

[VPI97]

You're old.







Was the ice age really that cold when you were a kid?

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by VPI97

You're old.

You can do better than that.

Was the ice age really that cold when you were a kid?

No, we just bundled up in our mammoth-skin coats. Fire had been discovered, so that was a big help.

[WSUCougar]

My wife and I are celebrating our 15th anniversary in August, which puts an interesting perspective on the age thing.

I also realized yesterday that one of my best buddies and I have known each other for 30 years (since 4th grade). Ouch.

[sachmo71]

Is there a picture of Cougar anywhere?

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Is there a picture of Cougar anywhere?

Edit-removed picture

The one on the left.

[VPI97]

Dola -

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

You can do better than that.

I'm trying.

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by VPI97

The one on the left.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[WSUCougar]

While having a discussion with some co-workers, I commented that some inconsiderate people were firing off a bunch of fireworks on our street at 10:30 p.m. last night. Remark was made something to the effect that "Geez, turn 40 and you turn into a grouchy old man."

[Franklinnoble]

I'm turning 30 in August... but I'm definately feeling it.

[WSUCougar]

Today is a co-worker’s birthday, and as I was signing her card, one of my staff (an older guy) mentions that my birthday is coming up soon. A young (21ish), female staff member then asks how old I will be, “30?”

This is a double-edged sword, my friends. On the one hand, it’s great that she thinks I’m 30ish. On the other hand, she might just be saying that just to score brownie points (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition: It Never Hurts to Suck Up to the Boss).

And finally, it sucks that I have to tell her that no, I’m turning 40. Ugh, I don’t like saying it, I’ll admit it.

What follows is a long yuk-fest with the older guy, who seems entertained by the fact that I’m not too enthused about the sound of 40. Says I’m still “wet behind the ears” from his perspective, yada yada. And yet I’m sitting there thinking that I’m almost twice as old as the young woman.

Ah well.

[MizzouRah]

..and I thought turning 33 this year was bad enough.

Just kidding.. you're as old as you feel, or something like that.


Todd

[SplitPersonality1]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

My wife and I are celebrating our 15th anniversary in August, which puts an interesting perspective on the age thing.

I also realized yesterday that one of my best buddies and I have known each other for 30 years (since 4th grade). Ouch.

Hmmm. Interesting. This will be me in three years. I will turn 40 and celebrate my 15th anniversary within two weeks of each other.

Since you are older than me...ahem.

How did you react when you heard the news that Lincoln was shot?
What was life like before the invention of the radio?
When the doctor prescribed leeches, did he sell them to you or did you have to gather them yourself?
Did those leather helmets offer "any" protection at all when you played football?

Just curious.

[Alf]

I just had a party last Saturday where 2 friends turned 40 and I can tell you there is still gas left !

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by Alf

I just had a party last Saturday where 2 friends turned 40 and I can tell you there is still gas left !

Oh, there's plenty of gas alright.

Okay, on to Splits questions.

How did you react when you heard the news that Lincoln was shot?
I can't recall. We didn't get word of that very quickly up in the Washington Territory. News didn't travel fast by post rider.

What was life like before the invention of the radio?
We did alright. My leisure time improved greatly with Edison's invention of the Frisbee prior to that.

When the doctor prescribed leeches, did he sell them to you or did you have to gather them yourself?
We just went down to the local LeechMart, silly.

Did those leather helmets offer "any" protection at all when you played football?
Funny thing is I've seen a photo of my dad wearing one of those in high school.

By the way, I return to the dentist today for my permanent crown. Yee-ha. Having a crown sounds old. :o

[sachmo71]

I've had crowns for years. Since I were 17, I believe.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

I've had crowns for years. Since I were 17, I believe.

Is that in monkey years?

[primelord]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

And yet I’m sitting there thinking that I’m almost twice as old as the young woman.

If it makes you feel any better you are only about 1.5 times as old as I am.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by primelord

If it makes you feel any better you are only about 1.5 times as old as I am.

Yeah, THANKS!

[Wolfpack]

You're from St. Louis, right? Did you get to see Lewis & Clark leave and return on their Voyage of Discovery?

(Sorry, had to pile on...)

It's kinda funny getting older. As I've advanced through my 20s, I've found it more difficult to keep straight how old I am. I guess it's because I'm no longer in school and don't have any benchmarks that accompany my age anymore, i.e. senior in high school at 18, senior in college at 22, and so forth.

The first time I realized I was getting old was when I became older than a Playboy playmate back when I was in college. It's been a steady climb since then (I'm probably older than 99% of them by now).

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

You're from St. Louis, right? Did you get to see Lewis & Clark leave and return on their Voyage of Discovery?

No, but I did greet them on the other end of their trip (Columbia River).

It's kinda funny getting older. As I've advanced through my 20s, I've found it more difficult to keep straight how old I am. I guess it's because I'm no longer in school and don't have any benchmarks that accompany my age anymore, i.e. senior in high school at 18, senior in college at 22, and so forth.

Yeah, I experienced the same thing throughout the mid-20s through the 30s. I've never really paid much attention to it until now.

The first time I realized I was getting old was when I became older than a Playboy playmate back when I was in college. It's been a steady climb since then (I'm probably older than 99% of them by now).

Heh. I remember the first year that I was older than the two Cy Young Award winners: Saberhagen and Gooden. Damn, I'm old.

[SplitPersonality1]

LeechMart

Nice one.

[WSUCougar]

In the finest traditions of pimp-hood, I now have a gold crown. It's a back molar, by the way.

There was a discussion on sports radio yesterday about Randy Johnson, and I found it particularly relevant since the host guy was saying something like, "Which just goes to show you the impact that a 40-year-old athlete can have in today's professional sports."

[WSUCougar]

One day to go. I'm resigned to it now, for what it's worth. Alas, the final day of my 30s will be mild. Work, a trip to the grocery store, and then home again, home again, jiggedy jig.

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

In the finest traditions of pimp-hood, I now have a gold crown. It's a back molar, by the way.

I have 3.

[Lokugh]

If it makes you feel any better, a few friends and I got together on the occasion of one of their 30th birthdays. Over a bottle of tequila, we came up with the following stages of life:

Baby: -9 months to talking in multiple word sentences (Dada! and No! do not count).
Kid: Talking to age 13
Teenager: 13 to high school graduation
Young: high school graduation to 29
Middle Aged: 30 to whenever "senior citizen" starts
Senior Citizen: You become a senior citizen the instant you begin accepting senior citizen discounts (anywhere from 50 to old)
Old: When you can clearly remember a time period when the word "gay" meant happy.
Ancient: When you can clearly remember a time when it was still legal to shoot Indians. (Onw of my great grandmothers is 107 and a full-blooded Cherokee...she still remembers when it was not only legal, but REQUIRED to shoot Indians).

You decide where you fit

[WSUCougar]

My co-workers and staff gave me a birthday lunch and cake today. Which is great, of course. A few choice comments in the card:

Still 29?
It’s all down hill from here.
Best wishes now that you’ve come of AGE.
Enjoy the first anniversary of your 39th birthday.
Now that you are over the hill it’s easy going from here.
Happy birthday you old S.O.B.
Birthday’s are always great till THIS one comes around.

The funny thing is that all of the clever remarks came from people older than me. The young’uns just said “happy birthday” or whatever.

Now for today’s kicker. One of the guys, a randy bugger any way you slice it, gave me a wink and told me in a serious tone that when he turned 40 he reverted to the physical abilities of a teenager, only with stamina. I hadn’t heard of such a thing, but…WOOT!

[SplitPersonality1]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Now for today’s kicker. One of the guys, a randy bugger any way you slice it, gave me a wink and told me in a serious tone that when he turned 40 he reverted to the physical abilities of a teenager, only with stamina. I hadn’t heard of such a thing, but…WOOT!

There was a reason you haven't heard of such a thing.......He was lying. Mwhahahaha!

[sabotai]

(Ferengi Rule of Acquisition: It Never Hurts to Suck Up to the Boss).

For the uber-geek award, and without cheating, can you name what is the number of that rule?

[SFL Cat]

Don't sweat it Coug, I just turned 43. I guess I'm finally going to have to decide what I want to do when I grow up.

[WSUCougar]

That's it man, game over man, game over, man! Game over!