The Big Four-Ooooh…

Yes, you read that right. I turned 40 yesterday. At least that is what the math works out to, because I don’t personally believe it. I still feel about 27, or maybe 32. Definitely not 40. Or not what I thought 40 would feel like – although I did go to the orthopedic last week and discover that I possibly have a torn meniscus in my knee, which is why it feels all creaky and weird. Then there is the whole pulled hamstring thing (which I did at the same time I hurt my knee) so I look a little like I have a limp right now. Maybe I look 40, but I sure don’t feel it.

I was thinking about this post yesterday, thinking about how much my life has changed in the past 10 years. It is incredible to say the least.

To sum it up, back on September 27, 1999:
– Jason was only 7 years old.
– I lived in an apartment a few miles from where we live now.
– I was no longer working at Fulbright & Jaworski by a few weeks.
– I was making soap full time for a living. Yes. Soap.
– I was also working on building a great friendship with Anne-Marie, the owner of BrambleBerry, and I later helped her develop her site.
– I was already online for a few years, and knew how to code HTML by hand. I rock it old school.
– I was in a relationship with someone who never could commit, and I still thought it might work out although deep down I probably knew better.
– I didn’t know all of the hundreds of people I know now that make my life so amazing.
– I loved to take photographs, but didn’t know I could make a living doing it.
– Instead of having coffee with my friends like I did this year, 10 years ago I was having the best party ever at the Pink Palace in Melbourne.

In the 10 years that have passed – my 30s – I have worked for two web design companies and another law firm. I lost a job in the dot com bust of 2001, but had another one within 2 weeks. I owned my own blog hosting company, which I eventually sold for a profit. I’ve been told that makes me a dot com success story.

I started this blog in early September, 2000. I’ve met zillions of people thanks to my blog – seriously too many to name here – who have all blessed and enriched my life in countless ways. The best one, of course, was Mike, who I married in 2004. (Props to Ann for nudging me to meet him when he got back to Houston.) People have come into my life and stayed, and others have passed through – but I feel like all of them have made some sort of difference.

Jason has made it through elementary school, junior high, and is now in his senior year of high school. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m incredibly proud of him – he really is the most amazing son.

And after all those jobs, I’m doing what I love the most for work – taking photographs of amazing, beautiful clients at such an important time in their lives as they get married, graduate from high school, have a baby, or whatever the occasion may be. People even give me gifts or advice on from their lives, like the couple who was having a baby told me to get My Babies Planet Baby Gear if I were to ever have a kid. Working with Elaine & Brittany has been the best. On top of that, I get to stay true to my geek roots, writing here and helping people out with their blogs and SEO. I get to travel for both jobs. I am most grateful to Jason & Mike, along with my parents, for their tireless support.

Thank you again to everyone for their warm birthday wishes on Twitter and Facebook, and a special thanks to those of you that joined us on Friday night for my birthday party to kick off my birthday weekend, and to my family for wrapping it up with a fantastic brunch, Euchre, and a delicious dinner at Vic & Anthony’s last night.

I would have written this yesterday, on my 40th, but spending time with family was much more important. I decided it could be a day late.

I am blessed. I am blessed indeed. My 30s were AMAZING. I am a bit stunned when I think of what all has changed in the past 10 years. I can only hope my 40s go as well! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part of it all!