You know they tell you 30 the new 20? And 40 is the new 30?
50 is not the new 40. It’s all lies. It’s just 50.
But I spent it with my wife, who took the day off to be with me all day. After a visit to an Icebreaker merino wool store in Capitol, she treated me to a Japanese lunch at Hoshino, and even accompanied me to Funan, where I checked out gadgets and folding bicycles. She knows the things I like. With the restraint of a 50-year-old, I bought nothing. Just look look see see only.
And then later we had a last-minute invite to drinks and dinner with some old friends, talking about our kids because we are all already parents.
And we got home at 12.30am. Which may as well be 6am. Because you know, lao liao.
It was a heady day. I started the morning cranky. As a 50-year-old should be. But ended it sleepy. As a 50-year-old should be too.
I don’t have abs of steel. My face has some 老人斑. My Old Flower Eyes (presbyopia) are getting worse. Some of my hair is even white at the sides now, and due to be dyed. And my right shoulder hurts like heck. I’ll have to have that looked at.
But I have the love of a good woman. I have lovely children. I have a big circle of great friends. My mother still nags me and scolds me but remembers my birthday. My brothers are merciless in their teasing. And I have the support of a great extended family.
I cannot think of a better way to enter the second half of the century of my life.
This is us walking past the hotel where we had our wedding dinner more than 22 years ago. I thought it was a fitting reminder of our union and my blessed life.
Soon after this, we were knee-deep in conversation and Shochu with good friends. That’s how life should be, yeah? 50 and loving it.
Thanks be to God and thanks to all of my loved ones who have made my life a wonderful ride so far.