# I am 40 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138 "2007-10-18T04:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/1 "2007-10-18T04:27:52Z")
How did this happen? It seems like I was just turning 16 about five minutes ago! Sheesh. Happy birthday to me… And get off of my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/2 "2007-10-18T04:38:42Z")
Welcome to the wonderful world of middle age. Reflect always that middle and old age is better than the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/3 "2007-10-18T04:39:00Z")
Is it as bad as they say? I still have a few months, but I suspect I’m not going to enjoy the whole process. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/4 "2007-10-18T04:43:23Z")
Happy Birthday! ---
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/5 "2007-10-18T04:48:11Z")
Well, so far I’m only about 45 minutes into it. I do know that I’ve spent some time (especially the last couple of months) dreading this day. It’s sort of a relief to finally be here. I think I said the same thing about having each kid. By the way, I have an 18 year old. 18. Wow! Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to go back and be younger again. I’m happy with my life. Could we just maybe slow down the clock some? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/6 "2007-10-18T05:01:56Z")
[QUOTE=purple haze] Could we just maybe slow down the clock some? [/QUOTE] In case you haven’t noticed it yet, the clock will start speeding up more rapidly now, like the last vortex of water going down the sink drain. Think about it: When you were 5, a year represented a whole 20% of your life, almost infinity. Now a year is a tiny fraction and over in the blink of an eye. The older you get, th faster time accelerates like the downward pull of gravity on a roller coaster. Have a nice day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/7 "2007-10-18T07:03:21Z")
I suggest embracing middle age, it has worked well for me. When I turned 40 I was not accepting middle age until my oldest daughter (she’s 25 btw, and has a new baby, how did _that_ happen?) told me on my 40th birthday that if I live until I am 80, then 40 is, indeed, middle age. Time does race by, but I find that the ride is much smoother than it was in my 20’s and 30’s, and I notice a lot of things that I didn’t have time for when I was younger. When I look in the mirror I think of the lyrics “wrinkles only go where the smiles have been” and smile back at myself. Happy birthday, and many returns of the day! ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/8 "2007-10-18T07:16:29Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Is it as bad as they say? [/QUOTE] Yes. And you know what is the only way to avoid it… :eek: 😃 > [@purple haze](#): > > By the way, I have an 18 year old. 18. Wow! You started early! I’m nearly 44 and my oldest is (almost) 15 (actually, her birthday is day after mine.) And it’s not **really** that bad… I was just trying to scare **bobo** 😛 Happy birthday, and congrats on becoming a real, \*for really real \*this time, grown up 🙂 Oh, and … both of you… geroff my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/9 "2007-10-18T08:08:07Z")
Hey, the up side is once you’re over the hill, you pick up speed. Wanna join me here, on the luge to hell? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/10 "2007-10-18T08:47:16Z")
Happy birthday! I’ve been 40 for a month and a half now. It’s all it’s cracked up to be. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/11 "2007-10-18T08:51:13Z")
Good grief! I’m 42 and my kid’s 8 1/2! You’re always 18 on the inside. You’ve just had more practice! 😃 I like being over 40, I can laugh at all the fashions and say horrid things like; “\*That’s \*back? _Again?_” It really upsets the kids. If that doesn’t work, \*wear \*the latest fashion with pride, you’ll never see it on a teenager again! Oooh, the power. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/12 "2007-10-18T09:06:22Z")
These young’ens. I’ll be 46 this month. Get the hell of my lawn, you whippersnappers. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/13 "2007-10-18T09:08:23Z")
Yah! Watcha gonna do about it? Nyah nyah! ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/14 "2007-10-18T09:12:43Z")
For the last 14 years, I’ve had this blinking light in my hand and I’ve been running all over the place and I really need a good facelift and some sanctuary to hang out at. Just gotta stay away from those jumbo microwave ovens and those swarthy silver robots. Damn…just seems like it was yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/15 "2007-10-18T09:47:14Z")
Kids. I’m surrounded by kids. Happy Birthday! Just remember this: The road ahead leads only to the sunset. Travel that road with gusto and happiness. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/16 "2007-10-18T10:16:09Z")
Happy birthday you young sprog. 40? it’s nuffink mate, wait until you’re 65 like moi ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/17 "2007-10-18T11:13:08Z")
Wishing you a good day, a good year and a great life! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/18 "2007-10-18T11:42:02Z")
Happy Birthday! ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/19 "2007-10-18T12:38:24Z")
[QUOTE=maggenpye] Yah! Watcha gonna do about it? Nyah nyah! [/QUOTE] I know where you live. I’ll tell your kids on you. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-40/423138/20 "2007-10-18T12:41:48Z")
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