"The answer
to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything
is 42."
~ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas
Adams
I
have hated birthdays since the age of 16 not because I disliked getting old but
because each passing year marks a new distance of time from when everything was
innocent and my friends were alive. I’m often melancholy and perhaps a bit
dramatic about it. Today is different. Where has the time gone? Wasn’t I just
19, 25, 32, 39…? It’s an odd feeling to consider time passing. I was probably
the only in my circle of friends who couldn’t wait to be 35 but now…. If I
double my age, I’m 84. Good lord. New wrinkles on my forehead but they really
don’t bother me in the way they bother some. But I notice them because I look
different… now, even to me I look a bit different.
I
don’t like to be wished “Happy Birthday” by the masses especially on social media so I don’t make my birthday available on Facebook. Is "Happy Birthday" really a wish or is it more a threat- "you should have a happy birthday"... what if I want to just have a birthday? I have a broken tooth; I have a ton of crap that I need to take care of... I really just want to have a nice day without feeling pressured to. I thought about it today and I much prefer the phrase, “I’m
glad you’re not dead” because isn’t that the alternative? I don’t want to be
dead. I want to live to be an old lady; I want to be 88 like the fortune-teller in my 20s told me I would be one day.
I
woke with my nerdy fella announcing, "The answer to the ultimate question
of life, the universe and everything is 42!"
So why 42? In the 90s, Adams revealed
“The answer to this is very simple. It was a joke. It had to be a number, an ordinary, smallish number, and I chose that one. Binary representations, base thirteen, Tibetan monks are all complete nonsense. I sat at my desk, stared into the garden and thought '42 will do'.”
I like the idea that he stared out
into his garden.
Last
night my fella and I went to dinner. We gift time… and at 42 (dramatically
said) that’s pretty important ;) Anyway, I bought a new dress. Actually, I bought two new dresses but here's the one that I wore to dinner.
This
morning I head to brunch with my Babushka. I made her order the chicken and
waffle-wich because the name was funny. I ordered the French toast.
I visited my favorite jewelry necromancer and bought a necklace where I can place my broken tooth. It's so dainty and sweet and even has diamonds! I can't wait until someone says, "That's a lovely necklace. What's inside?" Hee hee
This
afternoon was one of my favorite monthly activities… Horror Book Club! I adore them. The club is filled with folks from various backgrounds with various tastes in horror. I wanted to grow as a reader and have a group with whom I could actually discuss great and not-so-great works. This is the best book club I've ever been in. Among other
things, some of which I’ll share in later posts, I grumbled about not caring
for the “Happy Birthday” wishes. Because they are who they are, wonderful
people indeed, as I left the book club, they shouted, “I’m glad you’re not dead!”
Yeah,
42 will do.
Im sorry. I wished you happy birthday but I can take it back, right and replace it with "I am glad you're not dead!"
ReplyDeleteHa! I meant more from folks who never interact with me for the entire year.
DeleteBut thank you :) I'm glad I'm not dead too.
Lovely words! "Im glad that your'e not dead". They tell the speakers appretiation for you. When I broke a tooth, my dentist tried to comfort me with: "You have such a tiny mouth and som many teeth that one more or less doesn't make a difference". I wasn't comforted at all and it still feels weird three years after. I think your idea with a necklace is brilliant. I hope that your day was good and that your coming days will be great.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! It was a very nice Sunday.
DeleteYeah, I'm hoping the tooth will be fixed-fixed (now there is just a temporary fix) soon. I spoke to a colleague and she has six months worth of procedures on her broken tooth =•O I am glad I didn't break a front tooth!
I am glad that you are alive, thankful that our paths crossed, and blessed to call you my friend!
ReplyDeleteWell, now, you just made my phrase even better.
DeleteI look forward to hanging with you soon!
I think the same to myself every morning when I wake up still sucking air ... glad I'm not dead. I wish the same to you. <3
ReplyDeleteP.S. Lovely dress! I adore anything black with flowers. :)
Ha ha ha one of my students asked why I wasn't thankful to be alive daily. I responded that I wasn't that old just yet ;p
DeleteOh black fabric and flowers... Me too!
Well, you know that I'm thrilled that your not dead and I will wish you a Happy Solar Return and may this year's trip be wonderful and thrilling!
ReplyDeleteWell that is a perfect greeting! There should be Solar Return day cards :D
DeleteGlad you're not dead m'dear :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I have frock envy!
Thank you and thank you :)
DeleteI'm glad you're not dead is a great saying! I am not a fan of birthdays either, at least not the actually being reminded of getting older bit. I do like the presents and maybe a party or dinner.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am also VERY glad you're not dead, and I hope you had a lovely day of 42!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, looking fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI wish there was a horror book club around here.
I too am very happy you are not dead. :D And that dress is super lovely, the red flowers are really vivid! :) Take care of each other, you and your fella!
ReplyDeleteat 42 you are still as beautiful if not more so than you were at 16 when we would hang out in your room. <3 You have not changed, in my eyes you are still as freaking awesome inside and out as the day I met you! We have lost so much, but I am thankful to say we haven't lost each other. I am so glad you are not dead! <3
ReplyDelete