49
Posted on May 10, 2018 Posted by John Scalzi 35 Comments
Wait, I’m almost done with my 40s already?
As most of you know every year on my birthday I take a picture of myself, a sort of “state of the Scalzi” photo. This is this year’s, brought about in part by the fact that my allergies have picked this very day to kick in and literally every other picture I’ve taken today makes me look like I’m about to burst into tears. This is the best picture out of, like, eighty. I honestly hope this is not a harbinger for the rest of my 49th year.
But I suspect it’s not. I already have lots of very cool things on the runway for this next year and plans with awesome people to do ridiculous things. You will get to see some of them! Promise.
In the meantime, on we go to the last year of my 40s. Ready? Let’s do this.
Happy birthday! Allergies aside, I hope you have a great day, and a great year ahead of you. :-)
Happy Birthday!
Here’s hoping it’s better than my 49th year – in and out of the hospital for the first 8 months. A non-alcoholic Cheers to you!
Happy birthday, John! Have a nice day a great 49th year around our star!
Happy birthday to one of my very favorite authors!
It’d be your 50th year as your first year started at birth till you were 1 ;)
Hate to break it to you, but you’ve completed your 49th year. Welcome to year 50!
Happy Birthday! It’s all uphill from here!
Happy birthday! (My allergies have been horrendous this year. You have my sympathies.)
Many Happy Returns of the Day!
I desperately wanted to be the first pedant to point out that you’re entering your 50th year, not your 49th – but it seems I’m already too late for that.
I’ll just wish you a Happy Birthday instead!
I too am 49 (just this last January). So far it’s been a good year for me and I hope the same for you. Thank you very much for sharing your life with us. Know that those of us in your age group truly appreciate both your age-specific-in-jokes/writing/witticisms and also your open and honest assessments of growing older as a person, a husband and a parent. Know that there are many like you who read and appreciate knowing that we’re not the only ones dealing with X, Y, or Z (including reactions to, say, the current political clime). Happy Birthday! I hope you and your family have a great day and a wonderful year ahead.
Damn it, damn it. Yes, it’s your 50th year. (I’m 57; in my 58th year.) A true pedant isn’t annoyed by errors so much as by not being the first one to point them out!
Happy Birthday, John! Do awesome and ridiculous things! It’s a Scalzi kind of day.
How about a photomontage-Evolution of an Author (vs intelligent design thereof?)
In Japan they have this weird thing that you’re age one in your first year, which lasts until the new year when the counter clicks over. So it’s possible to be a day old (born on 31st December) and two [years old] simultaneously.
Happy birthday! When I was a kid (10), I told a bunch of other kids, in front of my mom, that she was “Half a CENTURY OLD!” The other kids looked at her like she’d come over with Columbus or something. One more year and you too can make small kids look at you like you’re a historical artifact too! (I passed it years ago, so I’m positively decrepit to them)
When my late brother turned 50 I told him not to think of it as half a century but as 5 percent of a millennium. Save this comment for later if you like.
Happy Birthday, dude! As I will be turning 59 this year (did I just say that?) I can say that your 50’s are going to be full of great “Ah-hah!” moments. I’ve a feeling that my 60’s are going to be full of “Oh, crap!” moments. As you say: let’s do this.
I left my forties behind 12 years ago. It wasn’t a big deal. Remember: age is mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter. ;)
Happy birthday! Several people beat me to the pedantic point about your 50th year.
Happy Birthday, John! I got one more before the big 5-0. Looking forward to “The Consuming Fire” later this year. Cheers!
Huh. You were born 1 day, and 4 years, after I was.
Happy birthday! I’m nine days shy of my own 49th, so I’ll be watching you so I’ll know exactly how the wheels are going to fall off. Hairline visibly receding? Beard getting scruffier? Abruptly go up a pants size? Enquiring minds want to know! (I want to know!)
(And boy, there’s a reference that anybody under 35 sure won’t get.)
HB2U.
Happy birthday! I hope it’s full of not only the amazing things you know about but also wonderful surprises.
Happy Birthday!
Even if this is your fiftieth year, which it is, you still get to count it as part of your 40s.
Otherwise you’d have been shortchanged on your first decade, and that wouldn’t be logical or fair.
Happy Birthday.
Happy birthday! Are you going to do anything spectacular for 50?
49.
The age when during your physical your doctor notes your age and begins to giggle maniacally. “You’re going to be 50 next year?” Chortle. “You know what’s coming, don’t you? Let me schedule that right now…! Buwahahahaha!” Next 20 minutes filled with ‘penetrating’ medical jokes.
Happy, Happy Birthday!
You have my sympathy… For both the birthday and the allergies.
Happy birthday, sir! Sending wishes for boundless health and tremendous happiness this year and for many more to come.
Happy birthday, Scalzi! I can assure you 49 is not all it’s cracked up to be, except when it’s much, much more. I suspect this has something to do with this thing called “life.” You appear to be maximizing your enjoyment of it, so, as you were.
Happy Birthday! When my husband and I turned 49 we celebrated becoming perfect squares. Hope it’s the beginning of a great year!
Happy Birthday, John! I love your books and have enjoyed meeting you in person! Have a great birthday celebration…and ignore those pesky allergies! This too shall pass!
Happy Birthday, a day late! Hope it was awesome.