You also said YES when I told you to write about this this week! Off to a good start! (And for the record, Mom turned 39 at least 3 times and my year of yes was 42-but I blame the pandemic for that one! So this runs in the family)
This is honestly such a hilarious thing for me to read. This is the reason: I am 47 years old. I turned 47 in April and just like you, I told people for at least a couple months that it was my 48th birthday. I didn't get it right until my Aunt questioned my math on my actual birthday and we sat down and counted. So, I'm here to tell you that you are not alone in this. I cannot wait to show my kids this story so I can prove to them that their old mom hasn't completely lost the plot like they thought. 😄😄😄
I tried burning down the city records office in my hometown, but then discovered they now back up these records into the "cloud". People need to remember that not all technological advances are for the better.
This is a case of the in-between birthdays. At some point life forces us to “get real” and only the milestone b-days count (by count I mean there is an obligation to have a large party), 30,35,40,50,60,70–after seventy you stop caring (or is that 80)😂
But I’m pressing up against 50 and I’m not skipping ahead. Actually, for the next ~8 months I’m going to tell people I’m 48–one step forward, two steps back—I’ll get to 50 eventually or one of my science buddies will figure out how to reverse this aging thing before I stop caring🤔😂
Just celebrated my 50th at home, with the wife, our feline housemates, some Lagavulin, some cocktails, Lethal Weapon 4 (she’s a Jet Li fan but had never seen LW4), and I think that’s when we started our next binge run through Agents of Shield. Was an awesome birthday 😀
I thought about doing something bigger but my boys live in Ohio, my daughter lives in CA and the Forever Wife and I live in Upstate NY.
But, we’re friends with the owners of a winery up in Watkins Glen and we’ll be going up there for a hot air balloon event at the winery later this month. I’m going to count that as the “bigger” thing, I think. 😀
Thank you for an hilarious take on a very common reality. To answer your question: Robert Zimmerman (aka Dylan). I hope you’ll address one of my questions: our older daughter & one of her cousins were born a day apart. Next month, they’ll have their 49th birthday anniversaries. Is it permissible to have a single cake with 98 candles & invite the local fire brigade?
Thank you. The 98 candles probably require more robust candles than regular ones, and perhaps a broad flame on my Benzomatic propane torch. Thank you for permission.
Not only have I forgotten my own age, I put my oldest son’s birth year down wrong for YEARS! My husband finally had to point it out when we looked at his birth certificate. How could I (his actual mother) forget the year he was born?? I blame the eighties.
That you lied “under oath!” made me laugh. I have to count before I answer the age question all the time (I’m 53 I think?) and the other problem with that is remembering what year we’re in). And the women in your life are the best - more stories where they impart their wisdom, please, yes!
I think there's a natural tendency, in middle age, to round up your age. Essentially, I'm old now, there's no way to deny it, so maybe if I make it seem like I'm even older people will think I'm wise -- or something.
Michael: solid piece! Rule of Three weighed-in on birthdays a while back, in which I revealed that I share a birthday with: Albert Einstein, Jennifer Aniston and Burt Reynolds - so, I got that going for me. . .which is nice.
In my 20’s, as I got older, I declared that I was turning 21 for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time…. By the time I turned 30, I was so glad to get the dumbassery of my 20’s out of my life that I embraced the 30’s. I am now 45 and I have stopped caring about the numbers. I get it mixed up all the time, off my a year, who cares? Time is relative. I am getting older. I do not bounce back as quick as my younger get years.
This strange phenomenon began for me at age 44, when I kept thinking of myself as 45. I just turned 52 (I think 🤔) last week, and I had to break out the calculator again, like I have every year since I was 44 😂.
3. Hell no. I have three grandchildren and limited income.
4. Pizza, of course.
5. Alastair Cooke, RFK (the original), Margherita of Savoy (for whom the Pizza Margherita is named), Kennesaw Mountain Landis, Dick Smothers, Dr John, Joe Biden… I’ll stop there.
You also said YES when I told you to write about this this week! Off to a good start! (And for the record, Mom turned 39 at least 3 times and my year of yes was 42-but I blame the pandemic for that one! So this runs in the family)
This is honestly such a hilarious thing for me to read. This is the reason: I am 47 years old. I turned 47 in April and just like you, I told people for at least a couple months that it was my 48th birthday. I didn't get it right until my Aunt questioned my math on my actual birthday and we sat down and counted. So, I'm here to tell you that you are not alone in this. I cannot wait to show my kids this story so I can prove to them that their old mom hasn't completely lost the plot like they thought. 😄😄😄
Thank you for sharing this! I feel so much better.
I tried burning down the city records office in my hometown, but then discovered they now back up these records into the "cloud". People need to remember that not all technological advances are for the better.
Haha!
This is a case of the in-between birthdays. At some point life forces us to “get real” and only the milestone b-days count (by count I mean there is an obligation to have a large party), 30,35,40,50,60,70–after seventy you stop caring (or is that 80)😂
But I’m pressing up against 50 and I’m not skipping ahead. Actually, for the next ~8 months I’m going to tell people I’m 48–one step forward, two steps back—I’ll get to 50 eventually or one of my science buddies will figure out how to reverse this aging thing before I stop caring🤔😂
I think you’re right about the milestones. And happy early 50th. I’m close behind you, I think.
Just celebrated my 50th at home, with the wife, our feline housemates, some Lagavulin, some cocktails, Lethal Weapon 4 (she’s a Jet Li fan but had never seen LW4), and I think that’s when we started our next binge run through Agents of Shield. Was an awesome birthday 😀
I thought about doing something bigger but my boys live in Ohio, my daughter lives in CA and the Forever Wife and I live in Upstate NY.
But, we’re friends with the owners of a winery up in Watkins Glen and we’ll be going up there for a hot air balloon event at the winery later this month. I’m going to count that as the “bigger” thing, I think. 😀
Thank you for an hilarious take on a very common reality. To answer your question: Robert Zimmerman (aka Dylan). I hope you’ll address one of my questions: our older daughter & one of her cousins were born a day apart. Next month, they’ll have their 49th birthday anniversaries. Is it permissible to have a single cake with 98 candles & invite the local fire brigade?
If you can light that many candles all at once I say yes. Go for it. But absolutely notify the local fire brigade.
Thank you. The 98 candles probably require more robust candles than regular ones, and perhaps a broad flame on my Benzomatic propane torch. Thank you for permission.
Flame thrower ought to do it!
Not only have I forgotten my own age, I put my oldest son’s birth year down wrong for YEARS! My husband finally had to point it out when we looked at his birth certificate. How could I (his actual mother) forget the year he was born?? I blame the eighties.
Haha! I love this comment. Thank you!
That you lied “under oath!” made me laugh. I have to count before I answer the age question all the time (I’m 53 I think?) and the other problem with that is remembering what year we’re in). And the women in your life are the best - more stories where they impart their wisdom, please, yes!
Thank you, Robin! I’m very fortunate to have some great women in my life.
As Samuel Jackson said in Jackie Brown, “My ass may be dumb but I’m not a dumbass!”
Jackie Brown is criminally underrated.
I think there's a natural tendency, in middle age, to round up your age. Essentially, I'm old now, there's no way to deny it, so maybe if I make it seem like I'm even older people will think I'm wise -- or something.
I share a birthday with Beyonce.
I like this theory. Yes, I’m old, not sure how old, but I am wise AF.
Michael: solid piece! Rule of Three weighed-in on birthdays a while back, in which I revealed that I share a birthday with: Albert Einstein, Jennifer Aniston and Burt Reynolds - so, I got that going for me. . .which is nice.
https://ruleofthree.substack.com/p/birthday-celebrations-thru-the-ages?utm_source=publication-search
That’s a great birthday buddy trio!
In my 20’s, as I got older, I declared that I was turning 21 for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time…. By the time I turned 30, I was so glad to get the dumbassery of my 20’s out of my life that I embraced the 30’s. I am now 45 and I have stopped caring about the numbers. I get it mixed up all the time, off my a year, who cares? Time is relative. I am getting older. I do not bounce back as quick as my younger get years.
I think you’re doing birthdays right!
This strange phenomenon began for me at age 44, when I kept thinking of myself as 45. I just turned 52 (I think 🤔) last week, and I had to break out the calculator again, like I have every year since I was 44 😂.
Judging from the comments here this strange phenomenon hits many of us in our forties.
Happy Leap-Birthday!
Thank you!
1. Yes.
2. Yes, but I know I’ll be 70 this year.
3. Hell no. I have three grandchildren and limited income.
4. Pizza, of course.
5. Alastair Cooke, RFK (the original), Margherita of Savoy (for whom the Pizza Margherita is named), Kennesaw Mountain Landis, Dick Smothers, Dr John, Joe Biden… I’ll stop there.
Thank you for clarifying the original RFK. These days that’s very important.
My grandfather was born in Jerusalem but used a “hall of records fire” to claim birth, and citizenship, in the USA.
Something tells me that back in the day no hall of records escaped fire.
By the way- happy Birthday, Michael!
Thank you!
Happy belated birthday! I’m so glad you get to celebrate another year of 47. It’s a magic number, especially for Pomona College alums like me.
Yay, Pigpen! I share my birthday with William Butler Yeats, Paul Lynde, Richard Thomas and the Olsen twins. (Tosses confetti).
Does anyone else find it suspicious that so many records have been lost “when the courthouse burned down”? I smell a conspiracy.
Thanks Jessica! Forgive my ignorance but why is 47 a magic number for Pomona alums?
Googling I find some information here. The Star Trek connection was unexpected
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/47_(number)
Which came first, Pomona College or the ubiquity that is No. 47? https://magazine.pomona.edu/2015/spring/the-mystery-of-47/