I gotta tell ya. I’m glad it’s finally here.

The last month has been torturous, with the big FOUR OH hanging over my head. All the things I said I’d have accomplished by 40 screaming at me from all sides.

My failures magnified.

But it’s here. I’m 40, and I’m relieved.

After all, I’m just at the beginning of middle age. I figure the next decade is more or less the middle of life. There is still more ahead than there is behind, if I’m lucky and stay healthy, and these next 40-50 yrs I don’t have to learn to walk, talk, and take care of myself. I don’t have to suffer over my first date or first kiss or first time. I don’t have to go to college and earn a degree (or two). I don’t have to find my life partner, because I’m already spending every day with him. I don’t have to start a business, travel to Europe, make a movie (or two), write a book (or two)… I’ve already done all those things.

I still can do those things, but I do them from experience. I will definitely write more books. As for movies, that’s yet to be seen. Perhaps from the sidelines as a producer to when our ROWAN series is picked up. Not as a director. Never again as a director.

I will most definitely travel to Europe again…and beyond! I hope to actually live in Europe (at least part time) one day soon.

I do hope to have many more firsts, however… and I have no doubt that I will.