20040918

1800 hrs September 18th 2004

15 days

I will turn 40

I don't know how I will feel

on that day,

but I do know

right now,

that I am crippled

with fear.

Once upon a time,

when I wore

a younger man's clothes,

I was positive,

dynamic,

forward looking.

I thought I could

control my life,

chart my course,

influence my emotions.

Now,

almost 40 years later,

having been in prison,

admitted in a psychiatric ward,

survived a life threatening disease,

climbed the corporate ladder,

became a millionaire,

and lost it.

Been through the

emotional and financial devastation

of a divorce.

Experienced true love,

3 times,

and seen how romantic love,

mutate into a little more than

platonic love.

Used to think,

I'd turn 40,

with all guns blazing,

saying Holy Shit! What a ride,

this Life have been!

Now, I'm not so sure

anymore.

I'm turning 40,

by threading carefully,

a little uncertain,

a little unconfident,

but mostly scared.