Powered by glolg
Display Preferences Most Recent Entries Chatterbox Blog Links Site Statistics Category Tags About Me, Myself and Gilbert XML RSS Feed
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - 22:01 SGT
Posted By: Gilbert

22

Happy Birthday to me :)

And I thought 21 was old.

Reaching this milestone of age while in the midst of attempting an Asymptotics tutorial wasn't the flashiest of ways to go about it, but I didn't mind too much. It does come with the realization that I am irrevocably an adult. Yes, I know, I'm slow on the uptake. A young adult, but nevertheless one.

No, I didn't morph into an upright, conservative, solid-as-rock exemplar of grownupness upon that blink of the colon on the antique DIY LED clock mounted on the wall, but I got a distinct image of 23, 24 and 25 floating up with infinite patience in the recess of my consciousness.

"Come," I hear them whisper, with the detached promise that only figments of the imagination can possess. "Come into the world of adulthood. Walk out from the realm of potential into utility, hold your head high as a full member of society! Graduate and get a job, outrun the other rats, draw bigger salaries and pay higher taxes; Cast aside those A's, pursue the C's. Engage in obligatory polite small talk, attend company meet..."

And that was when I leg-tripped 23 and informed him nicely that he would have to wait his turn. 24 and 25, getting the hint, hurriedly pushed past the milling crowd of the thirties and forties and slunk away quietly. But I could not help but see their faces - my faces - as though from the grave, placid but self-possessed in the knowledge that their time would come.

"You know, that was totally unnecessary," 23 whined as he staggered up. "It is inevitable. The years pass ever more quickly as they go by. When I - I mean you - were five, a year was fully a fifth of your life, and birthdays were rare and welcome. But this latest was a meagre 4.5%, the next will be even less. Soon you will dread them, as your hair whitens and the vitality of youth withers..."

"Hold on," I interrupted. "When did I become so pessimistic about my future?"

"Ever since you grew older." 23 smirked. "And if you think I'm sour, wait till you meet 24."

Courteously, I reciprocated in kind, blasting him into smithereens with a natural 20 mental 7th Level Bolt of Pent-Up Negative Energy, before feeling really mean for doing that as the rest of my future selves wheeled in an immaterial cake. Boy, do I know how to make myself happy.

Seriously, a birthday's nothing too special. There isn't some ceremonial bell, tolling at the exact instant that one drew one's first breath, hanging over one's head. But the half day off entitlement when in NS isn't bad.

Interestingly, Robinho of Brazil and Real Madrid fame shares the same exact date of birth as me - 25 January 1984. It feels kind of good to be born on the same date as olden legends Eus�bio and Tost�o too. Not to mention the Scottish poet Robert Burns, Irish chemist Robert Boyle and Italian mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange.

"Let it not be said, however, that I am displeased with my life so far," one of my gathered future selves quipped. "Alexander had to weep for he had no more worlds to conquer. (Some nudges, and muttered commentary that in fact, he did, and should have employed better cartographers) I however, have them all before me."

I was impressed, but also a bit miffed. "That's very nice, but I'm supposed to say that. Your turn is in five years."

"Oops."


comments (6) - email - share - print - direct link
trackbacks (0) - trackback url


Next: Dog Year Ahoy


Related Posts:
The Stars Are Right
What I Do
Unsorted Assorted Thoughts
A York Day Out
Week In Review
Back to top




6 comments

sg_fjords said...
Clap clap... once again we're reminded of your literary talents


January 25, 2006 - 22:11 SGT     
colin said...
Happy Birthday!


January 25, 2006 - 23:16 SGT     
Chong Wenhoo said...
Haaappiieee birthday toooo yoooouuuuuu....

May all your dreams come true.


January 25, 2006 - 23:25 SGT     
pk said...
though not too soon,
for when we are without dreams,
then we are without purpose.
meow.


January 30, 2006 - 17:18 SGT     
qwergopot said...
may all your dreams come true save the perverted ones


January 30, 2006 - 21:16 SGT     
gilbert said...
but if no perverted ones then next time how Edchong earn my money?


January 30, 2006 - 21:19 SGT     

Copyright © 2006-2025 GLYS. All Rights Reserved.