I am another year older.

Birthdays are weird for me. I love celebrating them. Goddam can I get down with a day that's all about me. But while most people seem to fear birthdays I don't. My joints ache. My elbow hurts. My body is slowly breaking down, just like it's supposed to. But I don't feel old. And I don't look old. It's odd but I actually look better than I did 20 years ago. It's a little weird, actually. Stressful, kinda. Because I keep waiting for the other show to drop. I literally fear the painting in the attic because my lack of aging IS unnatural.

Only, it really isn't. It's just genes. Most of my family look far younger than they are. It wasn't until my dad hit his late 40s that he started to look like he'd hit his early 40s. My mom looks amazing for her age. And while folks will often look at my brothers and think I'm the baby (when I'm actually the eldest) they're holding up pretty damn well too.

So I don't fear birthdays. They're milemarkers. And so far I've been lucky enough to see myself actually moving forward each year. You might look at me and say I don't look a year older but luckily for me I do feel a year older.

Thanks for sticking around with me. Let's look forward to another year together, no?

P.S. If you wanna, you can celebrate another year with me tonight.