Turning 40: In Good Company
I’m about to have something in common with the Internet and Sesame Street: I’ll be blowing out 40 candles this year. Although I don’t really want that many candles burning at once: the last thing I need is any sprinkler system snafu.
I’m not doing anything special for that big day. No exotic trips — we’ll still be in November sweeps, so vacation is a no-no, anyway. No elaborate shopping sprees — I’ve finally realized that overspending ought to be a no-no.
And I’m good with that. I don’t need anything, other than cash. (I always accept that year round, in fact.)
I was browsing online on the subject of having completed four decades of life, and I stumbled upon a list of celebrities turning 40 this year. They include:
- Actor and musician Jack Black
- Ever-shirtless actor Matthew McConaughey
- Actress Jennifer Aniston
- Actor Verne “Mini-Me” Troyer
- Athlete Emmitt Smith
- Musician Jennifer Lopez
- Actor David Boreanaz
- Actor Jason Priestley
- Actor Matthew Perry
- Actor Jason Bateman
- Athlete Brett Farve
- Actress Kim Fields
- Athlete Nancy Kerrigan
Okay, I admit it: if I looked like Matt McConaughey, I’d probably be “ever shirtless” as well. As it is, I feel that keeping my shirt on at all times is one of the greatest things I can do for mankind.
I recall a certain hair dye commercial featuring Emmitt Smith whose suddenly-white beard had sidelined him in a nursing home. I’ve always claimed to have made a deal with my scalp that the hair could turn white, as long as it stayed put. So far, it seems to be sticking to the arrangements.
Unfortunately, on both counts. Guess I shouldn’t complain: it is, at least, staying put.
And every new white hair gets blamed on working in television. It’s such an easy target.
Unlike the internet, however, I don’t plan to celebrate two different 40th birthdays.
One is more than enough.

Welcome to Patrick’s Place, home of the Saturday Six, the Sunday Seven and Monday’s Morals. Patrick is a television producer, writer, Mac lover, and Christian, though not necessarily in that order. He has a natural dislike of double standards and poor grammar.


Hi Patrick
Happy Birthday!
Hope you have a wonderful one. You are in good company, so go ahead and light all those candles!
-Carly
Wow. For a second there, I thought I had posted something in my sleep, lacking severely in both content and grammar. But I think it’s a clever spammer, judging by the URL.
You’re quite right, and I’ve dealt with said clever spammer appropriately by booting him. Sorry about that, Mika. Generally, I’m at least above average at spotting a spam comment. That one had all the signs, but somehow it got past me.
According to that little link in the footer, Bad Behaviour blocked over a thousand spam attempts in the last week! I think this kind of spam traffic ought to be good for the ego!