Happy Birthday to Me
Today I turned 50. It’s an odd thing. I sure don’t feel 50. I’m in perfect health. Apparently that mumbo jumbo about good diet and exercise actually works.
Today the radio and newspapers will report my age as if it is news. Throughout the weekend, strangers will see me from a distance, mouth “happy birthday” and smile. I’ll enjoy it every time.
When I was 20, I wondered what it would be like to be 50. None of my guesses were close. I assumed that “aging” was automatically bad, so I didn’t look forward to it. No one told me that having more friends and fewer zits would feel like a good tradeoff. And if you told me I could have my twenty-year old body again, but I had to take my twenty-year old brain with it, I’d pass.
My cat Sarah is sitting near my feet, as she has every day for the past eighteen years of my cartooning career. She spends the first ten minutes of my day yelling at me to pet her before I do anything productive. I hate the distraction, but not as much as I love it. Today she’ll get a little extra petting.
I love my wife. I love my family. I love my job. I love my life. And I love you too, even when you’re grumpy. And I love being 50.
Here’s what I want you to do for my birthday. Send someone an e-mail and tell them how much you appreciate them, or love them. Do it right now. Then tell me about it in the comments. That’s what I want. It’s my birthday so you have to do it.
Go.
Does anyone have a copy of the Dilbert strip (6-8-07) on turning 50?
Posted by: Molly | July 30, 2007 at 06:38 AM
Done :-)
Happy Birthday.
Posted by: Chty | June 25, 2007 at 01:33 AM
I e-mailed somebody I'd been out of touch with for many years. So there you go!
Posted by: Erich Schwarz | June 18, 2007 at 12:07 AM
Gratz on reaching mid-life. I had no idea you were that old, I would have figured 35. I based that false assumption on the fact that you're pretty funny, and dilbert is also pretty funny - but most 50 yr olds arent that funny. most bore me to tears
Posted by: tallwookie | June 13, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Hi Scott,
First of all - Happy Birthday.
It's ironic:
1. I'm reading this post on the 13th of June.
2. I sent an email to my girlfriend on the 12th of June, in a somewhat inebriated state, letting her know what I felt like the day after I'd disclosed my feelings for her.
Turning 50 has truly given you extra-sensory powers. Then again the odds of you writing a post like that are not that bad either.
Posted by: Rohit Iyer | June 13, 2007 at 07:39 AM
Happy birthday! (almost on time)
Posted by: Listo Entertainment | June 13, 2007 at 04:07 AM
I sent my mate Gemma an email and let her know that I'm thinking of her when she wasn't at the big event this weekend and let her know that we'll be meeting up soon and there will be some good times rolling.
Happy birthday Scott.
Posted by: Peter | June 12, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Isn't it odd that when you post about something positive and ask others to do something positive you get a measley 200 comments? Whereas when you post something idiotic and/or inflammatory and piss people off you get 600 comments? Feh. Thanks for once again pointing out the failings of human nature. I called my mom who recently lost her job, did my best to cheer her up and told her I loved her even though it depresses me no end. Happy birthday.
Posted by: AndyT13 | June 12, 2007 at 10:38 AM
I meant to reply, but I forgot. But I did not forget to email my mother-in-law and father-in-law and let them know how much I love and value them.
Being not the sentimental types, it shall never be mentioned again, I'm sure, but it's made me feel better about life generally.
Posted by: Marci | June 12, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Every damn week a card comes round the office for someone I dont know asking me not only to waste my grey matter on a witty remark (dont you just HATE being the last to get the card .. all the good ones are taken) but also to contribute financially to this person I dont know's wellbeing.
FINALLY! I get a chance to wish (an albeit belated) Happy Birthday to someone who DOES make a difference in my life and who I dont dream about shredding in the Obliterator2000 office disposal system.
A very happy birthday to you Mr Adams and long may you continue to produce my brother Dilbert's life story .. it is truly an outpost of sanity in the wasteland of cube hell and I love it.
Cheers!
Posted by: Chris | June 12, 2007 at 07:10 AM
Happy Birthday Scott! I wrote myself a letter saying how much I love myself. It's great to be a schizo.
Posted by: Sal | June 12, 2007 at 04:08 AM
I sent an email to myself saying how much I loved me. God, I'm so awesome, i just can't keep my hands to myself on myself.. er, we won't go there.
Happy Belated Birthday, Mr Adams.
Posted by: Ian Walker | June 12, 2007 at 03:28 AM
You truly have a powerful mind -- I did what you asked me to, and I did not see your request until just now. I sent my girlfriend a brief, heartfelt message outlining exactly in what ways, and how much I love her. She responded a few days later, when she finally got it: "Were you high!?"
Posted by: Josh | June 12, 2007 at 03:18 AM
Belated happy birthday Scott! I love that you love your life ... the world sure needs more of that kind of feeling.
I sent my fiance a love message via SMS and he says he loves me, too. We're getting married in August! I love my life, too. = )
Posted by: Lissa | June 11, 2007 at 09:08 PM
I'm reading this a day or so late, so nyah. I don't have to do it. I think I'll just go for the loophole and say, I love you, Scott! Happy birthday!
Posted by: Kelsey H. | June 11, 2007 at 05:57 PM
I new you were fifty when I saw the cartoon. Nice job...
Thank-you.......(x50)......:)
Posted by: Jim -not yet fifty but close---- | June 11, 2007 at 04:13 PM
Happy belated birthday, Scott! Ironically, my brother's name is Scott and today is his birthday. He's kicking 50 in the ass, and hopefully is as happy as you are. (Of course I sent him a message, which he appreciated!)
Cheers from New Zealand -
Posted by: Logan | June 11, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Friday was my birthday too.
And I sent my girlfriend an email telling her how much I love her.
And I also sent her a jpeg of a happy polar bear.
Posted by: Matthew Kovich | June 11, 2007 at 01:38 PM
My husband mailed this to me, because my birthday is June 8 and I feel just like you do, Scott. Or maybe he emailed it to me because he saw Kim's email about getting sex because he sent his wife an email.
Thanks for years of laughs!
Posted by: Ellen | June 11, 2007 at 01:34 PM
I e-mailed my brother and told him I love him. We never really get to talk anymore (being thousands of miles apart while I'm at school), so it's a good thing to do anyway.
Posted by: Emma | June 11, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Happy belated birthday!! My birthday is this Saturday and I will be 56, so I have a few years on you. I am going to be a first time grandma in January and am not sure how I feel about that yet. Even though I'm plenty old enuf to be a grandma, I don't feel old enuf. Funny how the insides of you can feel so much younger than you look on the outside. I'm happy I found this blog today. Best wishes for a great year.
Posted by: Darlene | June 11, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Oboy - time for the dreaded colonoscopy.
Posted by: Fuzznsmoo | June 11, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Happy Belated-Birthday, Scott. Here's what I did: went to see my husband's community theater show for the second time. I brought him a single red rose and told him that I loved him.
Posted by: Kim | June 11, 2007 at 11:11 AM
I sent my wife a message, and got sex.
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
Posted by: Dave | June 11, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Happy birthday Scott
being 50 shouldn't be bad, I'm 16 and i look froward to the time when zits no longer take hold of my face
(you have no clue how school seems so close to the work world)
stay in health for all of our lives
Posted by: BMV | June 11, 2007 at 09:51 AM