Another Trip Around the Sun

Yesterday while attending Red Pepper’s soccer game I ran into someone I used to work with. In the course of our conversation we discovered that we both celebrated our 40th birthdays within a week of each other. His question to me caught me a little off guard: “Was it as devastating for you as it was for me?” I remarked something to the effect that I notice that I don’t bounce back physically as quickly as I used to, but otherwise couldn’t relate and so I said nothing more on that subject.

I wonder what it was specifically that so devastated him. Did he feel that his best days were behind him? Did he look forward and see steadily decreasing vitality? Did he once excel in sports and could feel the difference that 20 years has made?

First of all, let’s keep this real: 40 just isn’t that old, no matter what my kids think. Sure, the lines on my face are getting deeper and I have a few more gray hairs than I used to. And an eight-minute mile feels a lot faster than when I ran track in high school. There are other signs that remind me on a regular basis that I’m no longer a young man. And I’m not exactly thrilled about these things. Nor am I terribly excited about the colonoscopy that I still haven’t scheduled but need to.

But age brings benefits, too. While I have to admit I find myself re-learning too many lessons in life, some I have learned quite well. A little wisdom is definitely a good thing. It has brought me my wife, who has been my best friend for more than half of my life. It has allowed me to truly appreciate my parents and love my children. Mostly it has brought me experiences, which is more than saying memories. Memories are something I am reminded of when sitting on the couch and looking in a photo album. Experiences, on the other hand, are those things in the past that guide my present and future. And that’s where I choose to live—in the present and future.

Aging is neither good nor bad. It just is. So why waste my time railing against or lamenting something that I can’t control? No, I choose to embrace (sometimes hesitantly, admittedly) these birthdays that keep coming, and the changes that they represent. I am no longer the person I was 20 years ago. He doesn’t exist. I’m not even the person I was yesterday. I’m here today. Today touches the past and the future, but it’s the only thing that really matters, because it’s the only thing I can control in any degree.

And for that reason, to me despising a birthday is a rejection of today. It is trying to hold on to a past that no longer exists, and fearing a future that isn’t real. No, a birthday should be a celebration of those trips we’ve made around the sun and what they have brought us.

Flight Attendant Rap

Being in the flying industry, I always appreciate when someone steps out to make it more enjoyable. For example, the pre-departure briefing given by the flight attendents: this can be canned and boring (nearly all the time) or it can be fun. I vote for fun, and evidently, so does this flight attendent. Enjoy!

Because Sometimes Once Just Isn’t Enough

What do you do with a two-year-old who takes delight in chaos? My wife already blogged about The Snow Incident.

But evidently once just wasn't enough! Act II of The Snow Incident happened Sunday, just before our whole family was to meet with the bishop for recommends to attend the Draper Temple dedication. Yes, baby powder was everywhere. I vacuumed, hoping that would do a good enough job. It helped, but there was still a fine layer of powder on the pergo floor, which made it extra slippery. Fun, but he already broke his leg once. So I mopped it as well. And wiped it off of the furniture and bedding and. . . well, just about everything. It took me well over an hour to clean. On the bright side, I don't think his room has been that clean since we moved in.

The baby powder is no longer located in Jack-Jack's room.

Oh, but he's crafty. Yesterday he found the itch cream and squeezed it out of the tube onto his diapers. Naturally it didn’t stay there. It got all over the floor and his furniture, and all over him, too.

The itch cream is no longer located in Jack-Jack’s room, either.

Nor is the Aquaphor, nor anything else that could be shaken or squeezed within his room.

I suppose one solution is to give up on nap time. But that means my wife will also have to give up nap time. Not happening. Another solution is duct tape, but that seems a little extreme.

So I ask you, what do you do with a two-year-old who thrives on creating chaos?

The Coolness That is Facebook

Several months ago I received an invitation in my email to join Facebook.

It was from my mother.

Yes, my mom is more with it than I am.

I signed up and within just a few days I found my email full of people “friending” me who I had known in high school, college, my mission and even friends just down the street. It was very cool to re-connect with people I hadn’t talked to in 20 years or more and see where life had led them. Months later I still seem to add a friend or two every couple of weeks. I tend to check in when I’m on the road and see what’s going on. From what I hear some people get really wrapped up in it, spending hours of their day on Facebook. Sort of like World of Warcraft fro the non-Geek crowd, I guess.

Now my daughter, Banana, is on Facebook, as well as several of her friends. Two have invited me to be “friends.” I ignored the first request, because I just think it looks creepy that I’m friends with 13 and 14 year-old girls. But I mentioned it to someone at work and he said to go for it because then I’ll know what they’re up to—and know what my daughter may be up to. Her friends are pretty level-headed, as is she, but there may be some wisdom in that thought.

At least she doesn’t have a MySpace account. Then I might have something to worry about.

Now, I realize that I only have three or four people who read my blog, but if you're on Facebook and we haven't added each other as friends, well, what are you waiting for?

The Hero Within

OK, now you know my secret. While others believe I’m off flying around the southeastern USA I’m actually fighting against the forces of chaos and evil.

A little about eh costume/look. First the hair. No, that’s not a mullet. I swear. Ever since I saw the film “Willow” I wanted to be able to have my hair like Madmartigan’s (played by Val Kilmer). Why? I don’t know, it just looked cool to me, and with thick wavy hair it was never going to happen. Believe me, I grew up in the 70s when it was cool to have long hair. It didn’t work (not that my mom ever let it get too far).

As for the costume, flashy just means you’re easier to pick out. I like stealthy. Sneak up on the bad guys and take them out before they even know what’s happening.

The sword? OK, that’s more for “the look.” It’s not standard equipment, but swords are just much cooler than guns from my point of view. If you’ve ever watched “Heroes” on TV then you know that Hiro gets this too. It’s just one of those things.

Well, now my secret is out. But good luck catching me. You never know when I might turn up next.

A little more seriously, though, don’t we all want to be heroes? Some may not wish for the attention, but who doesn’t want super-powers to enable themselves to do amazing things? Amazing fathering powers would be high on my list. You know, always being able to motivate your children to do the right thing for the right reason at the right time. Incredible flying and financial planning skills would be too. Especially in this economy! Lets just make that fantastic providing powers so that we always have enough and to spare. Not to mention extraordinary husband powers (you know, like mind-reading) so that I can make my wife not only feel cherished and loved but also take away her worry and stress. I could go on, but you get the idea.

(If you haven’t already, check out my wife’s blog here. And you can be a hero too! Go to The Hero Factory and create your own alter-ego.)