Monumental Birthdays
Next year, my husband and I will hit the big 4-0. We’re not ashamed to admit it; we’re quite proud of the fact that we’re aging gracefully and are enjoying every bit of it. We plan on doing this monumental time marker up in style.
Fortieth birthdays are historically “the turn” from young adulthood to middle age. They are typically celebrated with black decor, such as balloons, banners and streamers, indicating that the honoree is “over the hill”. Foods might include soft-on-the-palate eateries that might indicate an aging individual. Guests typically poke fun at the guest of honor, introducing age-related jokes and stories about getting older.
Our birthday celebration will be much of the same. My husband’s birthday and mine are eight days apart, so we will be celebrating the weekend between the two. We are planning on a huge gathering of our friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. It will be a huge event, complete with a meal and entertainment.
We will greet our guests at the door with a decorated entry. Guests will know they are in the right spot, and they will realize they are in for a festive affair. We will have a small band playing hits from the past four decades - the band is comprised of friends of ours and are offering their services as a gift to us.
For our party, we will be going with a more festive decor than black. Forty is to be celebrated, not mourned, at least not in our cases. Our choice has a black background but has bold, bright colors to reflect our true feelings about getting older. Tables will be decked out in solid colors and accented with festive centerpieces and confetti. Guests will be given party hats and leis to wear during the celebration.
Our menu for the evening will be seafood as we will be returning from a vacation not too long before the party. The trip to a tropical destination is our gift to each other for our birthdays, and what better way to make the celebration last than to extend the menu to incorporate our travels. Skewers of shrimp, pork and vegetables will be served on beds of rice, alongside a green salad and mixed fruit. Our cake will be decked out in candles only a forty year-old could appreciate.
Like many monumental birthdays, forty is one to be celebrated and enjoyed, not hidden behind others to try and forget. My husband and I plan on making ours a special occasion for our guests and for each other.
