Domo Arigato, Mr. Bento
So I racked up another birthday Sunday, edging one step closer to The Gay Death That is 40 Unless You Start Calling Yourself A Daddy And Even Then Your Options Are Limited. I made myself feel better by pooling my Christmas and birthday gift funds and buying myself a Kindle 2. I know, I know. They’re not the same as books, and I’m essentially hammering another nail in the coffin of bookstores everywhere. But I held out on cell phones for a long time, and, well, the essence of life is change. Electronic readers are probably the future of reading, and I figured the sooner I made peace with it, the better.
I downloaded the new Cheever biography in less than a minute, a couple of sample chapters from the new Toni Morrison and Joseph O’Neil novels, and transferred four Word documents to the contraption, all of which I heartily enjoyed perusing on the stationary bike at the gym, simply because I didn’t have to hold a book open. Hands-free reading! This is why making deals with the devil always feels like fun.
Speaking of fun little contraptions, the Manly Fireplug bought me the hottest little lunchbox EVER for my birthday. The Mr. Bento box has four separate containers, an insulated shell, and a carrying bag. Today I brought rice, pork, sauce, and zucchini to the office, each in its own little container. Those Japanese think of everything. Not to mention its aesthetically appealing shape. You too could have a little manly fireplug in your life.
Of course the problem with edging closer to The Gay Death That is 40 is that my mind continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. I’ve forgotten both of my little contraptions at horribly inopportune places and times. I don’t know how we are supposed to cope. Between the cell phone, the laptop, the iPod, the wallet, the keys, the glasses, the books, the pens, WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, and Big Muscle Bear, my brain has splintered apart, never to be fully integrated again. I now understand why J.D. Salinger recused himself from society after writing A Catcher in the Rye. He saved himself the hassle of maintaining seventy-three internet profiles. Not to mention the hell of cocktail parties.
Welcome to Kindle2 land… I bought one a few weeks ago… and really dig it… not to worry… you are saving trees…
April 10th, 2009 at 5:13 pmFirst off, A Belated Happy Birthday!
As for a “Gay Death That is 40″, this 47 year old “corpse” is having a pretty good
time with life. After twenty-six years of living in San Francisco I’ve seen a lot of
life that would never have been possible had I not made that summer “visit”
from texas, way back when I was a way-to-serious 20 year old. As I’ve gotten
older, it seams that my attitude/view of life is getting younger.
Cheer up, it’s only going to get better.
If it will be of any help, because of some Judeo-Christian technicality, you can
not begin a decade with zero. That means that when you do hit 40, your at the
end of your thirties and 41 being the start of your forties.
An extra year to ponder the “Gay Death That is Your 40s”
April 11th, 2009 at 8:52 amI meant that very much tongue in cheek. That’s sometimes hard to garner over the internet. But I like my age.
Thanks for saying hi.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:32 amhoney, Gay Death happened at 30. IT ALREADY HAPPENED.
bento box!
April 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pmDamn you, Jennnie. I’m 38 and I’m PRETTY!!!!
April 11th, 2009 at 1:45 pmhey buddy,
happy born again day! good to see that you have climbed out of the bottomless pit. it’s ok to hit the bottom, because the only way then is up.
i know, i kicked and screamed all the way to the 21st century. i just got my first cell phone and i’m 46. i hate the machines, but i must remember that they are only tools that we make of them.
enjoy the new lunchbox and give kisses to all the your animals (including the fireplug).
“today is yesterday’s tomorrow…”
April 11th, 2009 at 1:49 pmI surfed on to your blog & I am glad I did!
April 11th, 2009 at 2:00 pmVery well done.
I will be back.
Happy belated Birthday!
from death past 50,
Stephen
Yo, bud. Pleased to see you’re reading LARK & TERMITE. I loved it far more than John (who prefers SHELTER), but that’s why they have horse races, right? Hope you enjoy it.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:06 pmJennie’s right, but for the walking dead, you look remarkably well-preserved. Who’s your embalmer?
(I’m mere months away from my automatic expiration date, i.e. 40, and last week someone said she wouldn’t have guessed I was over 33. Bless her heart. And I didn’t even have to pay her to say that.)
April 13th, 2009 at 3:27 amHappy Belated Birthday, from a long time reader/lurker.
April 14th, 2009 at 7:47 amHappy Birthday from another longtime lurker. I love my 40s…WAY better than my 20s…I actually think 42 was the cutest age EVER! Enjoy!
April 15th, 2009 at 9:52 amWell, I’m glad I made it to my fifties. I guess I’ve gone from death to resurrection. You’ll make a good daddy, sir.
Cheers and best wishes!
April 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm