Another year goes by, and another birthday is witnessed.

A friend of mine said "People in their 20's think their 30's are far away. People in their 30's realize their 20's were ten minutes ago. 40 is 'never going to happen' to some millennials; but once they get into their late 30's they'll wish people in their 20's weren't so judgmental."

Some interesting notions. Perception of age can be really involved; our entire society is shaped by it. How old someone is, the 'half + seven' rule, age of consent, over the hill, retirement, age you can drive, age you can vote, age you can die for your country and age you can die for crime.

All of these, are based upon numbers.

A number, which is entirely dependent on the number of times the Earth has gone around the Sun.

Where did this start? Back when it was actually important to keep track of seasons and years, when farming and aggregation was most everyone's primary focus of living. But in those days, 'age' was never even remotely considered a factor if a person could or could not do a thing. Marry, fight, a leader or follower. Your competency, and ability was the deciding factor in if a thing was done or not. How old was Alexander the Great when he conquered most of the known world?

Now, because of heard laws and established systems of normality and conformity in the US and most of the world, 18 has been established to be the standard age before a person can be considered an adult. When not 200 years ago, it was entirely possible for 14-15 year olds to marry, and be working on their first child.

What I find so troubling with these preconceived estimations is this: What does a person's orbital count, (or anniversary, if you like) say at all about who they are? The number of times they have existed upon the earth as it revolved around the sun, is about as relevant to estimating who a person is as the number of times in a person's life they've received a haircut. While statistically relevant, it says nothing about who they've met, what influences they have been exposed to, places they've travelled, lessons they've learned. Sure there's the typical 'did you attend high school' and other legally mandated activities, but even then that's no guarantee.

Perhaps they dropped out, or were a child prodigy and graduated college at 16, maybe still they started their own business at 12 developing Iphone apps and became a millionaire overnight. Or, maybe they had to quit school and work on the farm because of a parental death, and haven't been 100 miles outside where they were raised. Or, were born into a military family and can count on all their fingers and toes how many homes they've lived in since they were born... except they're missing 5 because they lost a foot in a mortar attack.

But, because a persons managed to survive on the planet as it made it's slow elliptical orbit around the sun a set number of times, they will be buttonholed and grouped into stereotypical categories. it's unfortunate, it's unfair, and it's an eventuality we all have to face, regularly and often. And that sucks.

I bring this up because I've now firmly hit a red letter age. I'll not say specifically what number, but it's a definitive number that many stress about. The amusing part for me is that I still pass for far younger in any social setting. I can lap people in their early 20's, and I am only just now starting to develop chest fuzz. I have no wrinkles, yet my hair is starting to gray. I've traveled to 7 different countries, lived in 3 and have citizenship in 2. I've done military service, I've worked for myself and massive multi-billion dollar international corporations. I've married, divorced, and have had child scares, twice. I've had relationships both personal and professional end because of death, and alcohol. I've been in serious trouble, and almost got sent to federal prison, but was exonerated by the skin of my teeth. I've lived in places that could be considered veritable paradise by most, and spent months so poor that I could only afford to eat once every 3 days.

And that’s just a tiny slice of experiences while staying upright and breathing through my orbits. Further, what does that all-hallowed number say about the personality I've developed during my orbits? What does this it say about any of that?

I think we all know the answer.

So, as we all bump about on spaceship Earth, making it's lazy orbit around our central nuclear furnace, the reason for which we're all alive and wriggling; remember the number of times you orbit does not define who you are, what you've done, or what you're capable of doing.

Or anyone else for that matter.