Better Concerts and Music

So yes it is that time of year again, it’s my birthday. But this year I am forty and I am really feeling it. I never pictured myself at forty and it is scary. I shyly look in the mirror and find a grey hair. It’s my first present of the day, how wonderful.

I think a cup of coffee will get me out of my slump but as I go down the stairs my joints are stiff. Wonderful, my second present, leg arthritis! This day is just getting better. What could go wrong next? I picture myself retiring all hunched over with a cane, this has to be happening at a rapid pace and faster than anyone else.

As I drop off the kids to school the rain begins to pour. Great, a perfect weather forecast to match my mood. When I get to work I realize I forgot my umbrella at home. Perfect, add it up to a bad hair day for my bad old birthday.

As I get to the office there are some festive balloons in my office surrounded by the proverbial over the hill you are 40 giant balloons that I get to stare at all day. They mean well, but it sure doesn’t add to my mood of feeling over the hill. So I delve into the cake they got me at lunch and think to myself why not, I’ll take the calories I’m over the hill anyway.

After lunch my phone rings and I look at the caller ID to see it is my best friend Lisa, who two years younger than me, is most likely going to in a loving way tease me about my age. But as I answer her call I sense something disturbing in her voice. She wishes me a happy birthday and that she is fine. But knowing her all too well I get her to tell me what is wrong.

She tries not to cry but I want to know what is wrong as she tells me, ‘I’m so sorry to tell you this today, but I just found out I have breast cancer and I really need a friend right now.’ After hearing this devastating news I feel awful. Here I am in my pity party of one and my best friend just got the worst news of her life. As I console her and tell her it is going to be okay I am slapping myself for being such a selfish idiot.

How could I let my thoughts go so far in the negative? I am so blessed to have what I have and how could I dare complain. What is a little wrinkle when I have my health? So as I get home I rush into the house and hug my kids and my husband and realize just how blessed I truly am.