I Keep Thinking That It's Not Goodbye

My birthday is the day after tomorrow.
I won't cry you any rivers, I won't try to tell you how much I hate having birthdays and how sad it makes me to be another year older. I don't so much care for being over forty, true, but there ARE worse things in the world. I also wish that I could stay young forever - who doesn't? However, I know that nobody does or ever has stayed young for even a minute longer than the time allotted and so have chosen to deal with it in the most dignified manner of which I am capable - about the same dignified manner than toddlers have when protesting that they're not tired and don't want to go to bed.
It won't be so bad though. I feel wiser than I was. I'm ready for new things; I feel equipped by the things I've gone through to meet new challenges, maybe even to enjoy it. I'm not regretting the last few years even though they've been rough ones. Why would I? The alternative would be to have no more years in front of me, and that day comes soon enough for all of us. I'm in no rush.
So if on Thursday I should happen to cross your mind, please send me a good wish. I'll be sending them back to you, I promise.

Title lyric from "Graduation" by Vitamin C.