On aging

[gominokouhai]

Today is my birthday. I am now older than my father was when I was born.

I'm still not interested in breeding—it's cruel enough to bring a new human into this dystopian nightmare world, worse yet to saddle one with my defective genetic legacy. Welcome to the world. The climate's fucked, the government is entirely composed of plutocratic psychopaths, and somehow we're all still racists. Oh, by the way, you have short hamstrings, chronic migraines, and a selection of interesting brain weasels. And stay away from red wine if you know what's good for you. Not going to inflict that on someone.

I do, however, regret the missed opportunity to have a convenient target for dad jokes. I would make the best dad jokes. Or perhaps I mean the worst.

Bloody hell, it's just occurred to me—if I had spawned, I would be a single parent now.

Quite happy staying as uncle pajh. Although I'm considering getting a dog. Or maybe a snake.

Comments

[bcran]

Happy birthday!

I find comparing key points in your life to that of your parents to be unproductive. At least for me it just made me depressed and frustrated knowing that my dad had married, got a PhD, lived in Australia, adopted my sister and moved back to the UK, while I was just struggling to live day-to-day and getting nowhere! For me, more important is _enjoying_ my life, and that's something I've learned to do in the last 2 years since moving 4,000 miles from the pressures of my family.

And remembering meeting the 35 year-old woman when I was skiing 10 years ago who was complaining about her coursework at university helps me remember all the things I have already achieved in life.

[spiralsheep]

Could you do the dad dance though? Video evidence required as proof, obv. ;-P

Happy birthday!

[gominokouhai]

I'm going to respond to that with another reference to 90s popular culture.

[gominokouhai]

You're entirely right: comparison is counterproductive, but sometimes it's compulsive.

You've got me thinking. pajh's Rules for Life #3 is that "everyone’s problems are the worst thing that’s ever happened to them". I need another rule extending the principle to other forms of comparison.

[omnipotent]

Happy birthday! I hope you were able to do something fun today.

I feel you on your feelings about procreation. I doubt your genetic legacy is "defective", but I feel much as you do about bringing new lives into the world.

[miss_s_b]

both dogs and snakes are ace.

[digitalraven]

Happy birthday (belated).

I hit the "older than my dad was" line ten years ago. Which I hadn't really thought about until you brought it up.

If you get a snake, be sure to get six mushrooms. And forty badgers. You know you want to.

[aralias]

dogs are cool. so are snakes.

happy birthday!

[andrewducker]

Uncledom is awesome.

And happy birthday!

[gominokouhai]

No, I'm quite serious. Short hamstrings, chronic migraines, and absolutely no red wine ever. Also, I've met both of my parents. My genes are naff.

Thank you for the birthday wishes. I was working on the day, but I had a nice Monday and Tuesday instead.