Today is my birthday. 39.
Real 39 though, not that “39″ that people say when they’re really 40.
Overall I have no problem being 39, except maybe when Nate, who’s eight years younger and thinks he’s 16 (see also: Guitar Hero) says things like “um…maybe you shouldn’t be wearing that skirt that’s one inch above your knees.”
Like I’m 70.
Like I’m dead.
So far I must say that 39 is not so bad, you young’ns out there who fear the bigger numbers. I’m liking it so much, I might just try it again next year. We’ll see.
As you can imagine, this is a tough birthday to have, especially in New York City. I elaborated on this last year and I don’t want to rehash it too much again. But for the last six years, it’s been hard to celebrate unabashedly when your birthday is at best a silver lining. I don’t want my birthday to be the silver lining. I want it to be the big fluffy white cloud with the rainbow behind it and the unicorn prancing overhead. Okay, so maybe I stole that image off a satin pillow I owned in 7th grade. Better that than the glittery t-shirt I owned at the same time that said tender sweet young thing. I don’t care for my birthday to be about tender sweet young thing, unless it’s describing a rack of lamb that I am eating over herbed risotto, with a bottomless bottle of Montrachet.
While there’s a lot of stuff to mourn today, in ways it helps to shed light on a lot of stuff I have to be grateful for as I round out my fourth decade on this planet.
High on the list:
This is what 39 looks like, with one arm wrapped around what 89 1/2 looks like.
I’ll take it.
99 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one
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Happy Birthday Liz! You claimed this day about 33 years before 2001. I think you can have the fluffy cloud.
it’s all fun and games until the unicorn puts someone’s eye out.hope your birthday is free of sharp objects in your eyes.
Happy Birthday and day-um, celebrate the AWESOME genetics in your family!
Happy 39th! We’re the same age for, hmm, 7 weeks.And do you ever have awesome genes!
I turn 39 on 9/30. I’ve always been fine with my age. Then, this past weekend, I went to NYC with my sister for a little vacation. Some kind New Yorker decided to guess the difference in our ages and guessed two years. My sister loved that…loved it because she is FOURTEEN years older than me. 39 feels a little different now.
Happy birthday! I wouldn’t have guessed either one of you were over 29
We’re just gettin’ started! The 30′s are rocking my world for more reasons than I thought possible.
I’m seven months behind you. Happy birthday!
You are beautiful at any age, inside and out. Happy day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Hope it was rockin.
You so do not look 39. And your Grandma is hot!
Happy Birthday!Mine’s next week – a whole 31.
Dude, I’m right behind you. I’ll be 39 in one month. Oy.
Happy birthday… The day is totally yours for the taking.
Happy birthday…I am 39 as well, it’s working for me so far….congrats!
Happy birthday from the tail end of 39.
Happy Birthday! I’m expecting wild kegger pictures in the next post.
Aww, come on. Nate is just policing your skirts because you’re hot and he doesn’t want some other younger man stealing you. Well, and it seems to me men have this weird “mother of my child” issue sometimes, too . . .Imagine I am singing some sort of obnoxious restaurant-style Happy Birthday song involving balloons, clapping, and possibly a sombrero in your honor.
Happy Day, Liz. You are one rockin’ hot momma.
Happy Birthday!!! Careful going out – you may get carded!!! CELEBRATE and ENJOY!
Happy Birthday, my friend. Eat 39 cupcakes. At least.
Happy birthday Liz. I’ll be right there with you next summer.Have a wonderful day. Not in a silver lining sort of way, but in a defiant spit in their eye life is going on despite it all sort of way. In a dance like nobody’s watching sort of way.
Happy Birthday! Wishing you fluffy clouds with unicorns, rainbows, and happy octopi waving their little tentacles in celebration.
Happy Birthday you sexy almost-40, you!!ALL my favorite people are Virgos!ALL of them!We need to get together with our white gloves and organize our spice racks sometime.Smooches!
Happy, happy day, Liz. Unicorns rule.
Happy Birthday!
I think I gave you that unicorn satin pillow as your bat mitzvah gift. And if I remember correctly I had a major fight with my mother over how much it cost – but I argued successfully that for my best friend, it wasn’t too much to pay. Now I get to tell her that you still use it for inspiration!Score!September 11 will always be about you, baby… and how fabulous you are and will continue to be – well into you later years…See you at 40, soon!
Happy Birthday, lovely lady. A wonderful year to you AND 39,000 hugs!
Happy Birthday, Liz….
Happy Birthday! Celebrate however you want – Mary made a very good point.
I hope I look as fantastic as you do at 39.You have set the bar ridiculously high
Happy Birthday!
89 1/2 looks like 60! Amazing! Happy birthday my dear. And when you decide to join me in my decade next year, we’ll have to celebrate , even if you’d rather wait until the 12th to do it. Much love and keep hiking up your skirt.
happy birthday!
Shit girl! I thought you were WAY younger than me (33)!!!!I hope I look half as gorgeous as you do at 39. Happy Birthday Tigger.
You both put those ages to shame! You look wonderful!!
You have good Genes. Your jeans are cute too. Happy birthday. Come on over to Bossy’s place and help her celebrate her son’s 18th birthday. Oyvey.
Happy birthday! It’s still your day, no matter what else has happened. Celebrate YOU.
We need birthdays on days like this. Happy Birthday — and you look great.
Happy Birthday, suweet-heart. You make 39 look SPECTACULAR.And? Happy BIRTHday to your fabulous mom. The world really oughta thank her, big time, for you.
Happy 39! You look fabulous and from that photo, it looks like you’ll be fabulous for years to come!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Liz – having celebrated the 4th anniversary of my 39th birthday, I get it – you look fabulous and your mother is absolutely gorgeous.You are very blessed – physically and…well…basically, everything else – and have every rite to enjoy the day.
Happy birthday, Liz. Hope you have a great day!
Happy Birthday, Liz! Both 39 and 89 1/2 are absolutely Gorgeous!! Tell your husband to turn off football and take you OUT.
Happy Birthday, Liz! Those are some amazing genes you’ve got there. Now go eat some cake while you wear a short skirt.
Well happy birthday to you – it’s mine also!
I’m right there with you — my 39th is coming up in January. Hope you have an awesome birthday!!
Happy Birthday! I was pregnant when I was 39. In fact, I had a baby shower on my 40th birthday, so that “big one” went by pretty much unnoticed.
Your family ages DAMN WELL. Happy day.
Happy birthday, dear! I’ll be 32 this month….and you look younger than I do.Did I mention I hate you for that?Just making sure.
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