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Attorney Tom OlsenTurning Forty
Attorney Tom Olsen
I would like to share my thoughts on a subject that I can speak of from experience - WHAT IT WAS LIKE TURNING 40 YEARS OLD. Few people face their 40th birthday without some trepidation. It's one of life's milestones, that's for sure. Mine was memorable, a special day. As usual, I have a story or two to tell.
I turned 40 on January 6, 1996. The night before my birthday, a Friday, I called to ask my good buddy Jorge to go canoeing with me. We loaded up our gear and set out for the Econlockhatchee River in East Orange County.
Just before we got to the river, we stopped at a convenience store to buy beer. Walking up to the counter with the beer, I was looking down at my pocket digging for money. I heard the clerk say, "I'll need to see I.D." I immediately thought "this is great, I'm turning 40 and I'm being asked for I.D. Maybe turning 40 won't be so bad." It felt great, I was flattered. I looked up and started to hand my driver's license to the clerk when she said to me in a matter of fact tone, "No, I mean your friend." It was back to reality for me.
Jorge and I put our canoes into the water at about 9 p.m. Wouldn't it be great, I thought, to be out on the river at midnight when I officially turned 40. No, I thought, we'll probably be off of the river and driving home by then. We set out, heading up river to a favorite spot, a hanging bridge. Paddling upstream, the going was hard, struggling as we were against the current.
Finally, we made the bridge and tied up our boats. We savored the moment, kicking back with a beer, talking, listening to the sounds of the night and staring at the moon. At last, we looked at each other, recognizing it was time to go. As we untied our boats from the bridge, I glanced at my watch. It was midnight, almost to the second. Yes, I was 40.
As we paddled back to the car, this time I was paddling with the current, it was much easier than on our trip to the bridge earlier in the evening. I was now almost effortlessly gliding down the river. Although I had paddled the Econ many times, every turn in the river was a new joy. Looking back, I realized that my experience canoeing on the river that night -- first against and then with the current -- was a metaphor for my life before and after I turned 40. During my 30s, life, work, childrearing all seemed like hard work and a struggle. My 30's were a time to pay my dues so to speak. Almost to the second, once I turned 40, life seemed easier, everything came together, professionally and personally. Although turning 40 brings with it a few gray hairs, the tradeoff has been a greater wisdom and confidence. Although I had the standard 40th birthday party that Saturday night, it is not as memorable to me as those quiet moments the night before on the river at the beginning of my 40's decade. Thank you Jorge for being there with me.
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