My birthday is Saturday. It’s a big birthday (isn’t that the silliest statement? people are always asking that).

Hi, what are you doing this weekend?

It’s my birthday Saturday.

Oh, is it a big one?

How do I answer this question? Do I ask them to define big? Is it a new decade or perhaps half or three quarters of the way through one?

It isn’t a new decade, but there does come a time where age becomes significant enough to give consideration to. Even if we don’t want to and feel well enough, the numbers themselves can give a person pause.

After all, there’s only so long, at least until science creates a way for us to live till we are 1000, that the human being can be on this earth, in this body. We age, well or otherwise. Our skin wrinkles, we have more aches and pains, our internal organs agitate, we become more frail and less robust.

On the other hand, for many this time of life is more peaceful, we have less to prove and feel more confident, we have time to do the things we once did not, our kids are grown and on their own, our responsibilities change, as do our choices. Perhaps we are well enough and have the money to travel, write, enjoy our children as adults, pursue new hobbies or rekindle old ones.

Whatever our situation, with all life’s twists and turns – I return to the Desiderata which has been decorating a bathroom wall of mine for most of my life – “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” The rest of it is well worth the read. Enjoy your weekend, I certainly plan to.