I am 39 years old. The big 4-0 is coming in April and I feel…excited, nervous, proud, grateful, nervous. I’ve already started thinking about what I want to do to celebrate the big day- Vegas? Key West, Pentwater, Atlantic City, Traverse City?

And yes, I will celebrate. 40 doesn’t scare me. Many are denied the privilege of growing old. I’m here, so I am going to make the most of it.

Inspired by some friends who have recently posted about their big days, I give you “My 39.” In no particular order.

1. I have a bite guard. Good thing Justin Timberlake already brought sexy back, otherwise I would give him a run for his money. It helps me sleep and I no longer have a popping jaw. So, turns out that rotten dentist was right, I needed it. Knowing how much it costs, I guard it like the crown jewels. I even use that retainer case they gave me. Cause, you know, I’m really 8.
2. Reading glasses. I’ve had these for 4 years now actually, courtesy of being a doctoral student for five years. But I need a stronger prescription for up close reading and I think I might benefit from bifocals. I wear my glasses all day at work. When someone comes into my office and I look up at them I can’t see them because they are far away. When I get up out of my chair and walk around the office or building (need to do that more. I am 39 after all) and forget to take my glasses off, I run into things. The alternative is one of those chains that hangs around your neck. I’m 39 not 79!
3. My cardio for the week is walking to the other section of our building to get chocolate to wake me up at 230pm.
4. My husband and I need to make a will. And, I want to do it. I have the name of a lawyer all ready to go. Just need to call.
5. When the quarterly reports from my 403b retirement plan come in, I read them.
6. I voted yesterday. I always vote.
7. I am seriously considering botox or some sort of filler for my crow’s feet. 40th treat to myself?
8. My hair is about 80% gray. I am too young to have as many grays as I do, so I dye it myself.
9. Because I have two children, a mortgage, car payments, blah blah blah, I dye my hair myself. I don’t have the time or money to get all over color and low lights every six weeks. Thanks, Garnier Nutrisse!
10. Related to above, I saved all of my Aveda Pure Privilege points to cover my most recent haircut so I could use cash to buy products.
11. Also related to above, I have needed conditioner and control paste for two weeks. But I went through every travel size bottle of stuff I had and squeezed out the old hair goop from the pump before I bit the bullet and paid $80 in product.
12. I haven’t had a functional umbrella in over two years. My husband just bought me one to use because it was snowing/sleeting on Halloween.
13. I want a tattoo. Have the font, color, location all picked out. Don’t think I can do it without passing out though.
14. My grandmother is 94. I know she will not live forever. When the phone rings, I fear that it is my mom telling me to come home because she died.
15. Ch-acne. Blerg. (if you don’t what that is, look for Tina Fey’s AmEx commercial.)
16. Mammograms. There is a correlation between my son’s cancer diagnosis and my increased risk of breast cancer. I have had three mammos already. They are not that bad. Although, I am guessing that the machine was invented by a man.
17. Red wine. I prefer red wine over beer. Beer makes me too full and then you can’t drink as much.
18. My feet and hands are always cold. I wear socks to bed and I tuck the bottom of my pjs into my socks so there is no skin exposed.
19. I never carry cash. In an emergency, I “borrow” it from my son’s piggy-bank.
20. I am turning into my mother and I am ok with that. It is a 12 hr car ride home to NJ. When we take rest stops, I actually make my sons run around to “get the willies out.” It helps them stop “acting all rammy.” These are things she said to us growing up. They are true and the best words to describe these feelings/actions.

What’s your 39 look like? I’d love to hear!