39 Candles

Time is a funny thing. Our perception of time vastly changes depending on age, circumstance, and many other factors. For example, when I was a young kid, summer vacation felt like it was a long time. I recall getting out of school as an elementary kid and thinking about how we had such a long time to do all sorts of fun activities and things. As an adult, I no longer get summer vacation, at least not the 10 weeks that we got as a kid, but still, 10 weeks now fly by. Even spring break as a kid, the one week off, felt quite long. It always felt like you could accomplish a lot of things and go places etc. Now, I take a week off and it flies by, and I feel like I only got a fraction of the things done that I wanted to complete.

Traveling is another example of how the perception of time can feel very different. When I was a kid, we used to drive to Disneyland for our big summer trip. I can remember waking up early, my parents packed the car and would also pack a small ice chest, an Igloo cooler in fact, full of Sunny Delight, soda, and maybe water. A box of Chicken in a Biscuit and Better Cheddar crackers, and we were off to Southern California.

The drive was about 5.5 to 6 hours each way but, going to Disneyland always felt faster. I believe it was the excitement and anticipation of getting to go to Disneyland. Sleeping in the car definitely happend, but while awake, thinking about all of the rides you wanted to go on and how it was going to be. Just playing out scenarios in your head was exhilarating in and of itself and I think that is why the trip to Disneyland always felt shorter. Meanwhile coming home, the excitement was gone. We were all tired. As an adult now, I think about how much money we just spent or about what I will need to do at work once I return, and this makes the return car ride feel so much longer.

Now I think about how years go by so quickly. I can recall being 10, 20, 30 years old and now I’m on the cusp of turning 40. Oh, how the decades pass us by, and time plays tricks on us with our feelings and perceptions.

I can remember my 6th birthday at Chuck-E-Cheese. I even remember a couple of gifts that I received. My friend Cameron gave me a police car that was about 1:16 scale and it had lights and sounds. It was blue and white. I thought that was so cool.

For my 18th birthday, I had a bunch of friends over to my parent’s house. My folks bought several giant pizzas from Mountain Mike’s. My friends had all chipped in and purchased me a new snowboard. After hanging out there for a while, we decided to go to the local billiards hall to play pool. We left a mess and didn’t put any of the pizza away. My parents ended up cleaning it up and threw out the pizza because it sat out unrefrigerated too long. I regret that part. Not the pizza really, but the principal. We should have cleaned up. My folks spent a lot on the pizza, and they didn’t hang out, they gave me and my friends space and in hindsight, we really dropped the ball. Sorry mom and dad.

My 21st birthday, my parents took me out to a place called Flix in the small city of Riverbank, CA. I think it is Cool Hand Luke's now. It was basically a bar and restaurant. I actually liked the food there a lot. It was movie themed, so the décor was photographs of actors and props etc. The names of the menu items were all movie themed or puns. They had the Terminator Burger which was a huge, I think double or triple, patty burger with bacon. That was my favorite item there. I remember having a Bud Light with my parents. Since I really didn’t start drinking before my 21st, it really was close to being my first beer ever, so it took me all meal to drink that beer.

Now I sit here, just having celebrated my 39th birthday I reflect on years past.

I can say that overall, I’ve had more good times than bad. I wish I can say there are no regrets, but I don’t believe that is possible, although still a worthy goal to aim for.

We just purchased our first house, got new jobs, bought a second car, and also purchased some large ticket items for the house. I certainly cannot complain. But this was not something that just happened because of our age. We worked very hard for this and saved and scrimped to get these things. In fact, we’re back in savings mode in order to pay down some of the debt that we accrued with the purchase of the house and those items. Hopefully by June we’ll be somewhat back on track.

The future looks bright for us. Both of us are in good health, no major changes. I’m hopeful that 2023 will bring some fun trips, both long trips and day trips. We still have an entire state to explore with many interesting and exciting places.

What will my 40th birthday bring? Only time will tell and even now as I write this, I don’t have any specific plans in mind, although it would be fun to do a big trip or a gathering with my friends and family, or both a big trip with friends and family.

I truly believe that 40 will just be another year, but I don’t say that cynically or in a malicious way. What I mean is, I think that as long as Marzz and I can continue to live the way we have been, with focus on our health and finances, next year will shape up to be a great year. In fact, I believe that now that we have secured our home, a huge purchase for us. Each subsequent year can be better than the last and that is a very exciting possibility. As our careers continue to grow, that will open more opportunity.

Turning a year older is an accomplishment, it is a good thing. Some choose to look at it through a negative lens and only see it as getting closer to death. Remember, there are some who unfortunately are taken from a young age, or an age that surprise people. So, there is no guarantee, therefore, getting older only means you lived another year. I would recommend choosing to look at it through a positive lens.

As Dr. Emmett Brown said:

“Your future is whatever you make it. So, make it a good one!”