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forty

2012 June 7
by Rachel Turiel

The kids made this sign 2 weeks ago and then asked me to hide it for them until my actual birthday. Pretty sneaky, guys.

It’s kind of a big one, I tell the kids, this turning 40.

Like when I turned 5, Rosie says knowingly.

Exactly, I tell her.

But why is it so big, Col wants to know. It’s because of the decades, I tell them. This is a new word for them. It means ten years – it’s like counting by dimes. You’re 4 dimes old! Col shrieks. Okay, that sounds more digestible.

Now that I’m forty, I can finally pose with my gardening gloves.

I don’t know how it is that turning 40 is both a crazy big deal and also just another day. I mean if I’m lucky, it’s just another day, like today where the kids slept PAST 6:30 and I crept out of bed and made the quietest cup of coffee. Ten minutes later I hear someone squeak awake and find Rose on the toilet in her pink “sophisticat” shirt, bewildered, blinking at the light. I throw my arms around her olive-skinned softness and kiss her eyelids, grateful to see her in a way that surprises me. I’m peeing, Mama, she tells me. That’s okay, honey.

I carry Rose into the living room and kiss her a hundred more times. Col rises and lunges for us on the couch, missile-like, all bones and hard-edges. The kids argue over who’s getting the most mama-space and I realize that even at 5 and 7, they need to be tucked in the envelope of my limbs regularly. Especially first thing in the morning.

Outside, the chickens screech brrrraaaaaaacck, and hundreds of edible plants are roused by the sun. The lettuce is spellbindingly lovely. The slugs eat my cucumber seedlings, and everyday we feed at least 20 of them to the chickens, whose eggs we eat, so it all sort of evens out. My husband is mixing up batter for waffles, this husband who’s known me almost 17 years, who loves me so well it sometimes makes me cry.

Sushi tonight, and then we’re spending the weekend here, with dear ones.

What more could I want?



105 Responses leave one →
  1. Melissa permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Waffles, sushi, and a weekend outdoors? It all sounds perfect. Hope you’re celebrated in the way that you deserve to be every day! Happy, happy birthday!

  2. June 7, 2012

    beautiful. happy birthday to you Rachel :)

  3. June 7, 2012

    beautiful. happy birthday to you Rachel :)

  4. Peggy permalink
    June 7, 2012

    HAPPY 4-0, Rachel!!! Sounds like you have a perfectly planned weekend! I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as you deserve to – HAVE A BLAST! Happy Birthday- love ALL of the Kenrick’s :-)

  5. Peggy permalink
    June 7, 2012

    HAPPY 4-0, Rachel!!! Sounds like you have a perfectly planned weekend! I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as you deserve to – HAVE A BLAST! Happy Birthday- love ALL of the Kenrick’s :-)

  6. June 7, 2012

    40 is ace I reckon (speaking as a 41 year old). Happy Birthday.

  7. June 7, 2012

    40 is ace I reckon (speaking as a 41 year old). Happy Birthday.

  8. Michele permalink
    June 7, 2012

    It is so wonderful to be where you want to be in life, helps make the 40 pill easy to swallow :)

  9. Michele permalink
    June 7, 2012

    It is so wonderful to be where you want to be in life, helps make the 40 pill easy to swallow :)

  10. June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday!

  11. June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday!

  12. abozza permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday, Rachel! May it be as wonderful as you! :)
    http://amysreallife.wordpress.com

  13. abozza permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday, Rachel! May it be as wonderful as you! :)
    http://amysreallife.wordpress.com

  14. teresa permalink
    June 7, 2012

    oh happy birthday to you beautiful mama! (and yay for a million sweet little snuggles and kisses before breakfast. the best!)
    xoxo
    -t

  15. teresa permalink
    June 7, 2012

    oh happy birthday to you beautiful mama! (and yay for a million sweet little snuggles and kisses before breakfast. the best!)
    xoxo
    -t

  16. June 7, 2012

    happy birthday, dear!!!! love that col! he told us you were turning 40! have a wonderful week/camping trip/everything!

  17. June 7, 2012

    happy birthday, dear!!!! love that col! he told us you were turning 40! have a wonderful week/camping trip/everything!

  18. June 7, 2012

    Happy Day, beautiful mama!

  19. June 7, 2012

    Happy Day, beautiful mama!

  20. June 7, 2012

    oh, so lovely! happy birthday!! it’s wonderful being alive, isn’t it?

    i so enjoy knowing you in this online way that we do.

    xo,
    s

  21. June 7, 2012

    oh, so lovely! happy birthday!! it’s wonderful being alive, isn’t it?

    i so enjoy knowing you in this online way that we do.

    xo,
    s

  22. June 7, 2012

    Oh my dear, this is so lovely. Happy happy birthday. (I knew we had that gemini thing going, but I had forgotten. I’m a week behind you. I’ll be forty on the 13th.)

    Happy, happy weekend with your dear loved ones. I’ll be raising a glass to you!

  23. June 7, 2012

    Oh my dear, this is so lovely. Happy happy birthday. (I knew we had that gemini thing going, but I had forgotten. I’m a week behind you. I’ll be forty on the 13th.)

    Happy, happy weekend with your dear loved ones. I’ll be raising a glass to you!

  24. June 7, 2012

    Sounds absolutely perfect. Happy 40!

  25. June 7, 2012

    Sounds absolutely perfect. Happy 40!

  26. June 7, 2012

    i just turned 40 a couple of months back and what i loved most about it was that it was just an ordinary day. lots of love, laughter, a bit of pouting…it was my life and it’s good.

    happy birthday to you!!!

  27. June 7, 2012

    i just turned 40 a couple of months back and what i loved most about it was that it was just an ordinary day. lots of love, laughter, a bit of pouting…it was my life and it’s good.

    happy birthday to you!!!

  28. Jenny Miller permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy, happy birthday to you! Wishing you lots of love.

  29. Jenny Miller permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy, happy birthday to you! Wishing you lots of love.

  30. rose permalink
    June 7, 2012

    oh, happy day! wishing you many more dimes of living and loving. and a great weekend too!

  31. rose permalink
    June 7, 2012

    oh, happy day! wishing you many more dimes of living and loving. and a great weekend too!

  32. June 7, 2012

    A Most Wonderful Happy Birthday Rachel, I just love reading you blog

  33. June 7, 2012

    A Most Wonderful Happy Birthday Rachel, I just love reading you blog

  34. Anonymous permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday! beautiful picture of you (and the garden gloves) – have a great weekend.

  35. Anonymous permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday! beautiful picture of you (and the garden gloves) – have a great weekend.

  36. June 7, 2012

    happy birthday, dear rachel! your approach to 40 is so graceful…as i face mine this fall, i hope to take a few lessons from you. i hope your weekend in the mountains is resplendent. as all beings give praise to the sun and summer, may your presence be another cause for celebration. love to you!

  37. June 7, 2012

    happy birthday, dear rachel! your approach to 40 is so graceful…as i face mine this fall, i hope to take a few lessons from you. i hope your weekend in the mountains is resplendent. as all beings give praise to the sun and summer, may your presence be another cause for celebration. love to you!

  38. June 7, 2012

    happiest of birthdays rachel!! you are beautiful both inside and out and most especially with those garden gloves!! enjoy your celebrations. and nahum made my card weeks in advance this year as well…he gave it to me early so i could keep it safe:) xo, pennie

  39. June 7, 2012

    happiest of birthdays rachel!! you are beautiful both inside and out and most especially with those garden gloves!! enjoy your celebrations. and nahum made my card weeks in advance this year as well…he gave it to me early so i could keep it safe:) xo, pennie

  40. June 7, 2012

    Hiya!
    Do you remember we celebrated my 22nd and your 23rd birthday together at the bunkis? What a fun summer we had! Keeps getting better. Love you tons and I’ve been thinking about you a lot! xoxo dmae*

  41. June 7, 2012

    Hiya!
    Do you remember we celebrated my 22nd and your 23rd birthday together at the bunkis? What a fun summer we had! Keeps getting better. Love you tons and I’ve been thinking about you a lot! xoxo dmae*

  42. June 7, 2012

    Happy birthday Rachel! Now that you’re 40, you pretty much can do anything you want, it’s true! xo

  43. June 7, 2012

    Happy birthday Rachel! Now that you’re 40, you pretty much can do anything you want, it’s true! xo

  44. Melissa permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Beautiful in garden gloves! Four dimes indeed. Love that! Love Rose’s understanding of milestone birthdays, too. Happiest of birthdays to you and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! xo

  45. Melissa permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Beautiful in garden gloves! Four dimes indeed. Love that! Love Rose’s understanding of milestone birthdays, too. Happiest of birthdays to you and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! xo

  46. Dan permalink
    June 7, 2012

    I love the flow of these descriptive paragraphs, slow weaving of summer and years, you are a 4-Dime Superstar! hugga-snuggle, Dan

  47. Dan permalink
    June 7, 2012

    I love the flow of these descriptive paragraphs, slow weaving of summer and years, you are a 4-Dime Superstar! hugga-snuggle, Dan

  48. June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday! Love that your kids made you a sign and then asked you to hide it. Too cute!

  49. June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday! Love that your kids made you a sign and then asked you to hide it. Too cute!

  50. June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday Rachel!! 40+ is fantastic! : )

  51. June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday Rachel!! 40+ is fantastic! : )

  52. Jessica permalink
    June 7, 2012

    The happiest of birthdays to you!! Raise a glass (or 4) to 40 times around the sun!
    I’m totally stealing Col’s 4 dime comment for my own 40th in a couple of weeks.

  53. Jessica permalink
    June 7, 2012

    The happiest of birthdays to you!! Raise a glass (or 4) to 40 times around the sun!
    I’m totally stealing Col’s 4 dime comment for my own 40th in a couple of weeks.

  54. Nasha permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy 4 dimes old!!!! I am finding that the 4th dime is the best thus far! Wishing you many more in your lil’ piggy bank:) Blessings!

  55. Nasha permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy 4 dimes old!!!! I am finding that the 4th dime is the best thus far! Wishing you many more in your lil’ piggy bank:) Blessings!

  56. ike permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Daughter!
    Love Dad
    Trying again to send message

  57. ike permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Daughter!
    Love Dad
    Trying again to send message

  58. coleen permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday and many more!

  59. coleen permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Birthday and many more!

  60. MIlla permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Happy Happy Birthday! Looks like you’ve already gotten your best presents;D

  61. MIlla permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy Happy Happy Birthday! Looks like you’ve already gotten your best presents;D

  62. Megan permalink
    June 7, 2012

    happy birthday you beautiful mountain mama!!

  63. Megan permalink
    June 7, 2012

    happy birthday you beautiful mountain mama!!

  64. June 7, 2012

    You’re beautiful.

  65. June 7, 2012

    You’re beautiful.

  66. Anonymous permalink
    June 7, 2012

    LoL on the gardening gloves. its funny ‘cuz it’s true.

  67. Anonymous permalink
    June 7, 2012

    LoL on the gardening gloves. its funny ‘cuz it’s true.

  68. June 7, 2012

    Happy birthday, Rachel. Thank you for sharing your beautiful world with us.

    xoxo

    ~erin

  69. June 7, 2012

    Happy birthday, Rachel. Thank you for sharing your beautiful world with us.

    xoxo

    ~erin

  70. June 7, 2012

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! This Rachel, too, likes to eat sushi for birthdays. Enjoy it!!

  71. June 7, 2012

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! This Rachel, too, likes to eat sushi for birthdays. Enjoy it!!

  72. June 7, 2012

    Best wishes for a happy happy day, and a blessed blessed forty-first year!

    xox

  73. June 7, 2012

    Best wishes for a happy happy day, and a blessed blessed forty-first year!

    xox

  74. Caraway permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Rachel, Welcome to 40!!!
    It is both an accomplishment and a privilege to turn 40 I think. And you have done it beautifully! You have created a magnificent family and a fulfilling life, and yes– what more could anyone want?? I’m so happy for you! :) :)
    Sending lots of love, caraway

  75. Caraway permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Rachel, Welcome to 40!!!
    It is both an accomplishment and a privilege to turn 40 I think. And you have done it beautifully! You have created a magnificent family and a fulfilling life, and yes– what more could anyone want?? I’m so happy for you! :) :)
    Sending lots of love, caraway

  76. Emmanuelle permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy, merry birthday to you dear Rachel… You look just as you are: wonderful. Particularly with garden gloves and that great smile of yours (always a treat to see it in your posts). I have recently introduced you to a friend and she feels very much in tune as well with the way your love of life simply radiates through every page :o)

  77. Emmanuelle permalink
    June 7, 2012

    Happy, merry birthday to you dear Rachel… You look just as you are: wonderful. Particularly with garden gloves and that great smile of yours (always a treat to see it in your posts). I have recently introduced you to a friend and she feels very much in tune as well with the way your love of life simply radiates through every page :o)

  78. EcoCatLady permalink
    June 7, 2012

    I figured this might be a good time to de-lurk and wish you a very happy birthday. By all accounts you are handling this milestone much better than I have dealt with my “big” birthdays:
    http://ecocatlady.blogspot.com/2012/02/numbers-shmumbers.html

    Love your blog, BTW!

  79. EcoCatLady permalink
    June 7, 2012

    I figured this might be a good time to de-lurk and wish you a very happy birthday. By all accounts you are handling this milestone much better than I have dealt with my “big” birthdays:
    http://ecocatlady.blogspot.com/2012/02/numbers-shmumbers.html

    Love your blog, BTW!

  80. June 7, 2012

    happy birthday to you!!

    and it’s great to put your age out there, with such pride. in an aging-phobic culture, i just loved seeing your perfect 40-ness! i recently turned 47, and i love the age that i am, i have so much more of what feels truly omportant in my life. xo

  81. June 7, 2012

    happy birthday to you!!

    and it’s great to put your age out there, with such pride. in an aging-phobic culture, i just loved seeing your perfect 40-ness! i recently turned 47, and i love the age that i am, i have so much more of what feels truly omportant in my life. xo

  82. June 8, 2012

    Best of wishes to you in this coming, no doubt, beautiful year. I bet if you’d been asked to write a scene from your 40th celebration in your 20s, you never could have tapped into how perfectly joyful and simple it could be. Cheers to a awesome glimpse into you and the ones who adore you. xoxo!

  83. June 8, 2012

    Best of wishes to you in this coming, no doubt, beautiful year. I bet if you’d been asked to write a scene from your 40th celebration in your 20s, you never could have tapped into how perfectly joyful and simple it could be. Cheers to a awesome glimpse into you and the ones who adore you. xoxo!

  84. rebecca permalink
    June 8, 2012

    so grateful to have spent part of your day with you and to call you friend. happy birthday, rachel!

  85. rebecca permalink
    June 8, 2012

    so grateful to have spent part of your day with you and to call you friend. happy birthday, rachel!

  86. June 8, 2012

    If I could, I’d get you a pink sophisticat shirt and maybe some matching gardening gloves. Happy, Happy Birthday!!

  87. June 8, 2012

    If I could, I’d get you a pink sophisticat shirt and maybe some matching gardening gloves. Happy, Happy Birthday!!

  88. Ania permalink
    June 8, 2012

    Best Wishes for this Happy, Happy Birthday!

  89. Ania permalink
    June 8, 2012

    Best Wishes for this Happy, Happy Birthday!

  90. June 8, 2012

    happy birthday rachel!!! four dimes, and hugging on kids. sounds like a perfect day! xoxoxo

  91. June 8, 2012

    happy birthday rachel!!! four dimes, and hugging on kids. sounds like a perfect day! xoxoxo

  92. June 8, 2012

    I have no doubt you had a lovely day with your family, Rachel. You deserve no less.

    I finally finagled some free time to myself and realize that I’ve missed the 6512 chronicles dearly. I’m excited to catch up with previous posts!

  93. June 8, 2012

    I have no doubt you had a lovely day with your family, Rachel. You deserve no less.

    I finally finagled some free time to myself and realize that I’ve missed the 6512 chronicles dearly. I’m excited to catch up with previous posts!

  94. Mamie tkd permalink
    June 8, 2012

    Happy, happy birthday, lovely Rachel. Enjoy every moment of the weekend with your dear ones!

  95. Mamie tkd permalink
    June 8, 2012

    Happy, happy birthday, lovely Rachel. Enjoy every moment of the weekend with your dear ones!

  96. June 8, 2012

    Happy birthday mama. Welcome to the magical and mystical land of Your Forties! :) May blessings abound on this new ‘dime’. xoxo

  97. June 8, 2012

    Happy birthday mama. Welcome to the magical and mystical land of Your Forties! :) May blessings abound on this new ‘dime’. xoxo

  98. Jamie permalink
    June 9, 2012

    Catching up….. I am only 5 behind you and hope that I look and act as lovely as you do now! I hope you are having a great weekend!

  99. Jamie permalink
    June 9, 2012

    Catching up….. I am only 5 behind you and hope that I look and act as lovely as you do now! I hope you are having a great weekend!

  100. June 23, 2012

    Happiest of belated birthdays to you, Rachel. You’re so lucky to have a summer birthday! I’m glad you got sunshine and a big dose of nature.

  101. June 23, 2012

    Happiest of belated birthdays to you, Rachel. You’re so lucky to have a summer birthday! I’m glad you got sunshine and a big dose of nature.

  102. July 6, 2012

    Happy belated bday, buttercup! So glad to see the fires aren’t knocking at your door. Oy!

  103. July 6, 2012

    Happy belated bday, buttercup! So glad to see the fires aren’t knocking at your door. Oy!

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