Some people don't understand the hoo-ha about age. Age is a Number - how is 40 different from 39, they ask. Well, it's a multiple of 5 and also a multiple of 10, and these are milestones or reference points in life. Why do we make plans to meet someone at 5:30 PM and not at 5:29 or 5:28? 

40 is the new 30, they say. So, 30 is the new 20? And 20 is the new 10? 10 is the new infancy? And ultimately, does that make birth the new past life? That's how ridiculous it sounds.

I rated my favourite ages (in decades):

1. 0-9 (remember very less, so possibly feels like the smoothest?) 
2. 20-29 (most of the best things in my life happened for the first time)
3. 30-39 (rough jolt from 'settled' back into 'unsettled', parenting)
4. 10-19 (harsh initiation into sad, bizarre and painful aspects of life)

Every decade has been its own beast. Some gifts have been lavish. Some snatched away before I could open them. Where will 40-49 place?