As of 8:05am, I turned 40!
And yes, I'm very excited about the whole deal! I love adding another candle to the cake, I love getting older, because, as
Harmzie-girl said, it "beats the alternative". So true, my friend, so true.
So, to celebrate, I have stolen a post idea from
my buddy Maria, and asked my younger self -- in this case, 20-year-old me* -- to interview the new 40-year-old me.
Have I fulfilled my youthful expectations? Or have I gone completely off track and become a bitter, old crone? Let's find out...
20yo Me: So, wow, 40. How does it feel to be 40?
40yo Me: You're wondering if I feel old, aren't you? Ah, youngling, I feel younger than I thought I would. Of course, I think I'd feel even younger if I were 118-ish lbs again.
But I've been through a lot, so considering the mileage, I think I'm doing pretty well.
20: Yeah, I must admit you still do look somewhat like me... except with a few more wrinkles, a few greys, about 30 extra pounds --
40: Oh, shut up, you're a frickin' stick. Next question.
20: Wow, when did I get bitchy? Sheesh, kidding. Ha! So, I guess my thinking that life ends at 30 is wrong, eh?
40: Oh, honey, it's just the beginning. I got married, bought a house, had a son, then had a daughter, and started my writing gig all in my 30s. Lots of starts. Life totally gets better after 30. :)
20: That's pretty cool! Married, eh? So, who do I end up with? Who is this Roomie?
40: Can't tell you, but it's definitely NOT the guy you're with right now. That's all I will say. And that he
is an engineer. Okay, enough. I've said too much. Oh, and that he has gorgeous blue-green eyes.
DAMMIT, shut up!20: O-kay... (Interviewer mildly fears that she will turn somewhat crazy over the next 2 decades)... So, am I a good engineer?
40: Yes, but you quit.
20: OMG, why?!!! Why would I do that?
40: I just couldn't stand doing that shit another day. I had a string of bosses who micro-managed, equipment that was so archaic you might as well be using punch cards or sending smoke signals or waving frickin' flags or banging rocks together!
And every time I got
creative, I "wasn't doing my job". Bastards.
On the bright side, I was able to pay off my
years of student loans, plan my wedding, and go on 2 honeymoons thanks to those jobs. So, whatever.
20: Whoa, bitter, are we? Okay, so, if you're not an engineer anymore, what else is there for you?
40: One word: BLOGGING -- just write and write and write. Do it early. Do it lots. Mrs. K in Grade 11 was on crack when she said you should stick to math and science.
20: Name 5 things I've claimed I'd never do or never think I could do that you, in fact, have done in the last 20 years.
40: Hmmm...
(1) - give birth naturally and without painkillers
(2) - open a hula & tahitian dance school
(3) - "take a break" from the parentals -- you'll find the peace you've been searching for after their drama is out of your life
(4) - move to a different country to live with a boyfriend
(5) - mile-high club -- yes, I said "mile-high club", Catholic-school prude-girl.
20: Okay, if you say so. Yikes. One regret?
40: Not breaking up sooner from the guy you're with right now. Don't worry -- he's not the boyfriend you fly to Hawai'i to live with. Nor is he Mr. Mile-High. You marry Mr. Mile-High.
Good grief, when will I just shut up about him?!!!20:
WHAT?! You lived in Hawai'i?! What the hell are you doing back here?!40: Because Canada is AWESOME! And don't ever forget that.
20: Anything else you want to share?
40: Yeah, first of all, proposing naked TOTALLY worked. Secondly, stay in Hawai'i 'til the end of July. What else... oh, yeah, and before you get pregnant, have your husband take pictures of you naked. Having a reminder that you once had a body like
that would be nice. You'll appreciate it when you're my age. :)
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* - Since I couldn't find a good picture of me at 20, I've once again chosen to inflict entertain you with this bitchin' pic of me at 18. I know -- hot, eh? Yeah, whatever. Enjoy. :)
(a) there is such a thing as banana sauce. Made with actual bananas. It's a "Product of the Philippines" thing. No, it doesn't taste like bananas. Yes, it tastes good, and is served as a condiment, much like ketchup. It's even red! -- by artificial means, but still -- RED!
BBQ SAUCE INGREDIENTS
