I cannot remember the last time I went to bed at 5:30am from being out partying.  If you take away the Daylight Savings Time that began this weekend, it was really 4:30am.  Still, I'm pretty sure it had been quite a number of years since my alcohol-affected eyes saw that time on the clock before going to sleep.

Last night Katie Jo threw me a 40th birthday party at the new MF Room in Buckhead, thanks to Trinity Productions.  Close to 100 people came to celebrate the special occasion, trying out the special drink they created for me with TyKu vodka - called the MEL-o Yellow - and enjoying music by DJ Camille.

The most-asked question of the evening was how it felt to be Forty.  Upon reflecting on this, I came up with one answer:  There are no more excuses.  The only difference in being in my 40's compared with any time before is the fact I have no more room for excuses.  For instance, if there is something I've always wanted to do it is now time to do it.  If I've always wanted to write a book, it's time.  If I wanted to learn how to do stained glass, it's time.  There is just something different about being 40 and conjuring up reasons I've put something off compared to being 20 or 30.  It just sounds more pathetic.  

So here I am in a new decade of my life, with a frozen cake-top in my fridge from an incredibly special night.  With my friends, co-workers, medical staff, and family by my side, I felt full of life last night and proud of the one I have led so far.  It's simply from now on if I have anything on some kind of Bucket List, it's time to cross it off.  And maybe some more sleep tonight.