39 plus one

Well, I wrestled, kicked, screamed, gave it the old atomic-elbow, pulled some hair, gnashed some teeth...but 40 came along anyway, all smug and cocky. 40--a major milestone birthday. The first age at which you begin to wonder: am I now old?

40 is a big number, a notorious number, a well-known number with lots of cool connections to its credit. There's the Top 40 countdown, WD-40, the 40-year old Virgin, 40 days and 40 nights, 40 winks, 40-hour work week (wait, that's not cool), Rolling Stones: 40 licks, Reagan was the 40th president...

Lot to live up to. No pressure.

But I must say, it turned out to be one of the best birthdays of my life. I had a surprise dinner with tons of friends at a great restaurant (planned by my thoughtful hubby), a weekend getaway to the mountains with my favorite men, and the diamond stud earrings I've coveted for about a decade. Yep, since I still feel 39 and yet got to experience such great festivities and gifts, I believe I'll turn 40 every year.