Ready or not...here comes 50

It’s only a number people often say, but turning 50 seems so old to me. Next week when the big day finally arrives, I know that I won’t feel anything drastically different. But I find it hard to believe I can be “that old.”
My older sister got me on Friday by sneaking into work and decorating my desk with subtle reminders of another birthday coming. At least the cake had a 5-0 on it rather than 50 separate candles. If that would have been the case, I would have had to have the Iron Mountain Fire Department on stand-by so we wouldn’t burn down the building.
I thought I was being smart this year by taking a week of vacation during the time when my birthday hit. I figured that was one way to avoid any attention that I was getting another year older.
But now I can relax — it’s almost over. I heard from my younger sister on Friday. She wanted to let me know that she was in no way responsible for the decorations at my desk at work. I think she’s getting a little nervous being the youngest among the sisters to turn 50. My older sister told her that it is a mere 16 months until she has that big birthday. It’s her time to be watching over her shoulder and wondering what fun will come her way.
She can also look forward to receiving some special cards during that time in the mail from my older sister letting her know every so often how much time she has left in her 40s.
So ready or not — here comes 50!