Well, here it is, or going to be in a little bit, May 7, 2008. My 40th birthday. Mrs. KF is under strict orders not to mention it to me.
I remember when my dad turned 40, he told my mother absolutely no parties. I couldn't understand as I was 12 at the time why he didn't want a birthday party, I do understand now. My mother never has listened to dad, she threw him one anyway, I hope, and am pretty sure that Mrs. KF has listened to me. One of my best friends says a birthday beats the alternative, which is very true, but there is something ominous about a birthday with a zero in it. As another of my best friends said on my 30th, I guess to make me feel good, "Brian, your life could be half over". A beautiful thought I will always remember and cherish. They use to say life begins at 40, I hope they are right.
Another thing I have been realizing for several years, getting old is painful at times. My brother and I use to make fun of dad when he got up in the mornings as he would groan and creak, we thought it couldn't possibly be real that he was that stiff in the morning, well, I believe it now, as I groan and creak myself.
Best part of this birthday(not) is that it is suppose to be raining heavily by morning, and I am supposed to load fat hogs, what could be a better way to start the morning on your 40th than loading a bunch of obstinate hogs, in the rain to boot. As one of our popular beer commercials says, "it just don't get any better than this".