I turn 40 today. I always wanted to be 40. Well, I guess I just always wanted to be older. To be an adult. When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up. I wanted to make money, drink, stay up late, make my own decisions...all the wonderful things I saw adults doing. Not sure why. I had a wonderful childhood. Boring at times, but still wonderful.
So when did "adulthood" really start for me? Definitely not at 18; I was mostly a punk. Not even at 26, when I got married; my wife was the adult in our relationship back then. I think it happened after we adopted our son. And now, at 40, with my work and family responsibilities and debts and college savings and investments and taxes, I'm in full-on adulthood. I've arrived. And I'm happy.
My co-workers posted 40 photo-shopped pics of me around our office -- one for each year -- to memorialize my time on the planet. I work with funny and creative people, so it was funny and creative:
And they tied it all into the big, adult theme of my 40th birthday: bourbon. Specifically, Maker's Mark. Yes, tomorrow Amy, Joe and I leave for Louisville, KY, for the weekend. I'm making my first trip to the Maker's Mark distillery in Loretto. My barrel is mature -- yes, a barrel with my name on it -- from which I will take 2 two-liter bottles home. It will be a blast.
So keep following me, and I'll let you in on the journey -- the one to bourbon Mecca and the bigger one of my now adult life.

