THE COUNTDOWN TO FORTY BEGINS!

[Grace]

Someone we all know is creeping up on the BIG FOUR-OH!

One year from today, someone will officially be over the hill and ready to be put out to pasture.

Enjoy your last year of being in your thirties.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CYBERMANCER!!!

[Cybermancer]

Thank you so much for announcing that to the world Darcy. Can I expect a sky writer next year?

It's got me thinking though. Depending on how you account time or expeirence I could be six months away from being forty or six months away from being fifty. But amazingly I don't feel a day over thirty. Even my leg injury has given me little to complain about these days.

While they say that you are only as old as you feel I wonder if there could be more to it then that. My last checkup indicated I am in better shape than I have been, ever. I feel as though I won't only live into my nineties, but that I'll feel like I'm only fifty when I get there.

[Gotham Witch]

Belated happy birthday, Matt. I'm glad to hear you don't feel 40 yet - nor look it for that matter.

[Hannah]

Well, as the CMMFYO* I am quite glad to know that the program has been working.

Hannah

PS: You know, we could arrange some sky writing . . . and fireworks.



*Chief Make Matt Feel Young Officer

[Grace]

I found a skywriter. You bring the fireworks.

[Grace]

Double entendre not intended.

[Grace]

Two more months...

[skeptic]

Someone tried to put me out to pasture once.
Once.

[Grace]

Only a matter of days...

[Holister]

What is so dang bad bout turnin' 40. Shoot, last person who said I was gettin' old I turned my gun around and asked em' "nicely" to get the heck out of my office.

[Cybermancer]

Fortunately it's not about you so illegal gun play will not be a factor here.

[Shang Li]

I fail to see what is so terrible about turning 40.

If you feel old because of some silly number, ignore the number and listen to what your body tells you.

If you feel old because of the relative age of you and your comrades - spend some time with YOUR elders.

If you feel old due to the changes that the world has made in your lifetime, well when I find a solution to that one I'll share it - although living a simple life in a remote place does help a little.


And remember, 40 is such a SMALL number...... and comes so early in life. Most people have barely begun to know themselves at 40.

If I had the means to arrange it, I would send you for a quiet visit to my eldest of friends. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/217439488232965811/ Perhaps if you ask nicely enough he will bother to awaken for you, and tell you of his youth, dancing with Okami Susano-o and Amaterasu, or of humbling the greatest warriors.

I would tell you to visit Fuji-sama, but when that one awakens, it will spell doom for many of the children of Amaterasu, and here are few of us left.

[Grace]

Yeah... it's pretty clear that you either don't get it or are interjecting without meaning or purpose. Given how old you claim to be, it seems hard to believe you've never encountered teasing between friends before so I can only assume you're interjecting without purpose or meaning.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

25 days to go.

[Shang Li]

I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

I teased in my way, although I fear the punchline was missed.

I apologize for interjecting where my voice was unwelcome.


Perhaps you would feel younger and more peaceful if you spent the day contemplating under the blossoms of a tree that has watched eons come and go.

[Grace]

Given that I am less than thirty, I feel plenty young.

[Ron Caliburn]

I can attest to that.

[Hannah]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!

Mrs. Hannah Knight

[Grace]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!

No fair beating me to the punch Hannah, but I guess you have the right.

[Cybermancer]

Thanks Hannah.

Thanks Mom.

[Grace]

Why you bastard. How long have you been waiting to do that?

[Cybermancer]

About a year.

[Gotham Witch]

It must have hurt holding it in that long.

Happy Birthday, Matt.

[Cybermancer]

Thanks Mel. It was harder than you can imagine.

[GhostSpider]

A happy, if belated, 40th birthday to you Cybermancer.

In the spirit of a past life, I would like to point something out though. Taking into account both the average life span of an american male (80's), and the current age of your wife, I think it is safe to say that you are entering a mid-life crisis. Should you be in the market for a fast car or two, I am currently living in Italy and am certain that I could find you a good deal on some very nice sports cars.

[Cybermancer]

I don't need another fast car, thanks. I've had one of one sort or another pretty much since I could drive.

Also, the term mid-life crisis suggests something is wrong. Far from it. In many ways I've never been happier or more fulfilled. Mid-life crisis's are for people who feel they've never done anything worthwhile and get into a panic over leaving a suitable legacy behind as they enter the second half of their lives.

Besides, I plan to live much longer than 80.

[GhostSpider]

I raise my glass to you sir.

Here's hoping for many more happy returns.

[Cybermancer]

Thank you, I appreciate it.