Careful What You Wish For

Today is my 40th birthday.

Since I am one of those who argued vehemently that the turn of the 21st century didn't occur until January 1, 2001, I will similarly argue that I will not enter my fourth decade until next October 12, at 10:35 p.m. (PDT). Regardless, the birthday ends in a zero, which makes it a big one.

I remember vividly, as a 3rd grader, thinking of my far-distant adult life. In addition to "knowing" that I would be fluent in 12 languages and smoke a pipe in my extensive, oak-walled library, I also knew that I would have kids once I hit 40. While I am now able to muddle through only two or three languages beyond English and my experience with smoking ended when cloves went out of fashion in 1984, I hit it square on with the third of my predictions: We are at the tail-end of the adoption process and I will in fact be a father — a role I've craved for half of my life now — before my next birthday.

So I say, careful what you wish for, for that wish may very well come true in the naive manner in which you envision it. Had I known back at Loyola Elementary what I know (or think I know) now, I would have wished for kids much sooner ... and perhaps that they came delivered in a brand new Audi to our mortgage-free, four-bedroom home in the foothills. :-)

But life is what it is, and I know that Syevinch is the greatest possible gift I will ever know. I will spend the next 40 years (god willing) making sure that she understands that.

Everyone join in now as I make my wish:

Happy birthday to me......