Today I am forty-years old.

It is also the first day that teachers are back to work after Christmas.  You’d think we’d have this Friday off—the Friday I’ve waited to enjoy for forty years—but instead we have a mandatory professional development day to work on reaccreditation.

What could be more appropriately middle-aged than mandatory meetings?

I’ve officially reached Dwight Schrute levels of birthday significance:

I have not, indeed, cured cancer.  I doubt I’ve cured much of anything beyond boring music (and I’ve probably created my fair share of that, too).

Despite my droll tone, I am actually really excited to be forty.  I’m looking forward to this new decade in my life.

The 2023-2024 academic year was a brutal one for yours portly.  I had developed this strange notion that I would not leave to see my fortieth birthday, which is one reason I composed so much in 2024; I felt like I needed to get it all out of my system before I succumbed to… something.  I never quite identified why I thought I wouldn’t last the year—and as I am writing this on 19 December 2024, I suppose my dark consideration could become true, which would make this post truly macabre—but I think it was a combination of burnout, severe depression, and loneliness.

The Lord Works wonders, though.  The current school year has been a true blessing.  I’m deeply and sincerely in love with Dr. Girlfriend, and she is The Real Deal.  Murphy is still kicking, defying the odds of an elderly, chunky dog.  My spiritual life is back on track, and I am submitting myself to God fully.

2025 is a big year in the family, too.  I’m forty today; my sister-in-law turns 40 in December.  My Dad turns 70 in August, and my niece turns 10 the same month.  My maternal grandfather will turn 90 in February, which further calls into question my thought that I was going to shed this mortal coil in 2024.

Things are looking up for yours portly.  Ultimately, God Is in control, and He Could Allow the devil to Job me, but… well, let’s not tempt the hand of Fate, shall we?  I am submitting to Him, and that has made all the difference.

Tomorrow I’ll be featuring a post about my plans and schemes for 2025.  “The best laid plans of mice and men” and all that; still, I think it’s worthwhile to put it down in writing.

Thanks to everyone for your kind support and comments.

Here’s to 40!

—TPP