A Slight Delay

I’d been looking forward to this week for quite some time, simply because I was reaching a milestone. A nice, even number. A number where people might say, “Hey, you’re doing pretty good for being 60.”

Sadly, I’ve felt life catching up to me for quite some time. I’m not in my 30s anymore. My kids are, but not me. I’m not even in my 40s or, technically, my 50s (more on that later) anymore. I look back and I’ve gotta wonder what I did with some of those decades.

Still, this was the week it was all gonna happen. I’d hoped to take a day and do a long ride to celebrate. Instead, I stayed home popping Motrin and Tylenol, slugging down shots of Dayquil and Musinix. And getting worse (it seems). I think I’m just too worn out. That if I’d felt this way a few days ago, I would have thought less of it. But now, it just hurts. My lungs are clear, but something’s creating a constant flow of congestion right at the base of my neck. No fever, but it’s moved up into my sinuses. And I’m quite tired. I can’t get through the night without spending several hours on the sofa. Don’t want to keep Micha up. And the sofa works because I can’t lie down anyway — that’s when the generator revs up to it’s max speed.

Now, I’m telling you all this stuff not to whine…although I feel justified in a way. I’m telling you this first as a story, and second to give you the news that my birthday has been postponed. I’m tentatively scheduled to turn 60 on Saturday. I appreciate all of the birthday wishes and the wonderful memories (like the teaching team busting out the karaoke mic when I brought in a cake that an old friend had dropped off), and I won’t hold any of you to repeat them. It’s just that, well, I’ve decided that I’m still 59, and I won’t turn 60 until April 15th this year. Sorry I didn’t get the word out sooner, but being sick for the past week (my cough started last Wednesday) has forced me to shuffle a few things around.

But as it turns out, I’m good with Saturday too. I see it this way — having my birthday on the 15th will certainly overshadow the birthday of another pseudo-celebrity (but a celebrity for all the wrong reasons). Anything I can do to help works for me. I’ll let you know how things are coming along on the big day…