Monday was going relatively well until I went to the post office.  The day had been full of good hospital visits, staff meeting, worship planning and routine Monday stuff.  Shortly after 5:00 I got in my truck and headed for home and decided to stop by and get the mail. Wading through a normal pile of junk mail and first of the month bills a letter caught my eye.  Looking at the return address I thought surely this was someone else's letter placed in my box by mistake.  And then I noticed it was addressed to me!

My first thought was this is a mistake.  But then it dawned on me that in 2009 I will turn 50.  When did that happen!?  AARP doesn't waste any time, do they!  I am not sure what all that means yet, but I am sure I will. I am not really sure at what age AARP comes for you.  But at that moment I pictured them as a vulture sitting on a pole waiting on some poor defenseless, dieing creature to become it's next victim!

Turning 30 didn't bother me.  Turning 40 didn't bother me that much either.  But there has been something about the thought of me turning 50 that hasn't sat well with me!  :-)  I know it is just a number and you are as young as you feel so I am trying to take it all in stride.  Take it on the chin like a man.

I know that the next decade of my life will bring much change.  Emily and Drew will be married just 5 days before my 50th birthday.  So if the wedding doesn't put me under, the b'day will!! :-)  Katie and Emily will both finish college next year and be moving on in the next phase of their lives.  But Debbie and I plan to enjoy a little more time together as more together time we will have for the first time in many years.  So there is a silver lining in spite of it all.

But I have decided to not stop at the post office for the mail anymore!