(Listening to “Walk On the Ocean” by Toad the Wet Sprocket)

I had a birthday this past week.  As Littles would say, “What number are you?”  I joke with the wife and say 30-34 is early 30’s, 35-38 is mid 30’s, and 39 and 39 1/2 are late 30’s.  So, according to my math, I’m officially in my late 30’s.  I had a great birthday week and decided to set a goal I want to reach before I turn 40.

The Monday before my birthday, the wife said, “Pick somewhere to eat.  I hired a sitter and I have the rest of the night planned.”  Thinking of the places to eat near our house, I settled on Chili’s.

Even though Chili’s is exactly a mile from our house, we have never been.  I have a strange liking for Chili’s.  It’s a bit nostalgic.  Over dinner, the wife and I were talking about how, in college, Chili’s was some fine dining.  If I went on a road trip to Minneapolis with my friends, we always made a stop at Chili’s.  If I had a date I wanted to impress, Chili’s was on the short list.  If friends and I were heading to Sioux Falls or Sioux City, Chili’s was always an option.  Maybe it was because I didn’t have a lot of money in college, or there wasn’t a Chili’s within an hour of my campus, but Chili’s was “high society.”  The wife agreed.

After college, Chili’s was still a staple.  My first real job was in Sioux City, IA and my friends and I spent a lot of time after work at the Chili’s on Nebraska St.  We’d go there on Friday nights, get the bottomless chips and salsa, and the beers as big as our heads.  We called it “BBHFN” which stood for “Beers as Big as Our Heads Friday Nights.”  Then our company jacked up our health care rates and we had to have “Health Care Friday Nights,” which consisted of us all bringing a cheap six-pack to each other’s apartments and watching movies; but, we still found room for “BBHFN” in our budgets.

Anyway, I like Chili’s and it didn’t disappoint.  The wife and I ate, we talked about our stories of Chili’s, among other things, and we did it all without kids.  It was now time for “Baby Driver.”

“Baby Driver” is a movie I had heard about when the wife and I went to “Wonder Woman” a few weeks back.  I saw the previews for it and was hooked.  It’s a movie about a kid named Baby, who is a wheel-man for a criminal mastermind.  Due to a car accident he was in as a child, Baby has a permanent ringing in his ears that he drowns out by constantly listening to music.  He’s also a really good driver.  Because of that, the movie has an amazing soundtrack to go along with the car chases.  The wife remembered I had wanted to see it and planned a dinner and a movie date for my birthday.  Yes, she’s great.  The movie is good, but it’s a little violent.  Fifteen years ago I would have watched this movie without batting an eyelash.  Last week, I was kinda like, “Hmmm, well, this is a little violent, I guess.”  I blame the late 30’s.

I had been thinking about my age 39 goal for a while, but Monday night’s Chili’s visit cemented it.  One of the questions my wife asks when we have a birthday is, “Do you have any goals for this year?”  Some years I struggle to answer that question, but this year was different.  I knew exactly what I was going to say.  As we sat there eating bottomless chips and salsa, I told her that this year I’m going to get into the best shape of my life.  I’ve always been in decent shape and stay active with snowboarding and other activities, but I want to be in great shape when I turn 40.  In my 40’s, my kids will be starting new hobbies, possibly taking up sports, and I want to be able to keep up with them.  The next day, when I felt like I had spent the last 12 hours licking a salt block, I knew my goal was good, so that’s what I’m going to do.  I’m going to watch what I eat, carve out time to workout, run more, and get in the best shape of my life.

Wednesday was my actual birthday, and it was the most typical day of the week.  I got up,  dropped off the girls at swim, went to work, interviewed people for 8 hours, and called it a day.  There was nothing special about it, except my boss did buy me a cake.  But, when I came home, the family had a nice surprise for me.  The wife made one of my favorites, salmon, for dinner, and then Littles and the wife baked me a white cake with chocolate frosting, complete with sprinkles.  I am loved.

The wife also got me a gift.  She knows gifts are one of my love languages and she came through in fine style; getting me a vinyl I had been wanting for a while.  She knows me so well.

I did sort of buy myself an early birthday present.  Jack Johnson came to town on Thursday and I had bought my ticket a few months back.  At the time, I asked the wife if she wanted to go, but I already knew her answer would be no.  I love his music, but she doesn’t.  She says he sounds whiney.  If whiney means awesome, then she’s right.  We love each other in spite of our faults.  Anyway, I went to the show by myself as I do from time to time.  Since I’ve become a parent, if the wife doesn’t want to go, then sometimes I just don’t want to interact with anyone.  I just want to be.  That doesn’t mean I don’t like going with friends, but sometimes the process of contacting people, seeing if everyone’s schedule works, buying tickets, and collecting money from everyone is just beyond me.  Anyway, Jack was great and I enjoyed the show.  It gave me the chance to be human for a few hours and that’s a good present in itself.

That pretty much sums it up.  Thirty-nine is off to a great start!  I had an awesome date with the wife, had a wonderful birthday with my family, and took in a show.  I’m looking forward to what this year has to offer and I’m looking forward to being in the best shape of my life.

Thanks to my family for a great birthday! I am fortunate and blessed.