Significant Birthdays

There are various birthdays that are symbolic of aging/maturing/growing up. While no one ever pines for their 11th or 27th or 36th birthdays (these simply are “just another birthday” years), others are more significant. This has caused me to ponder which birthdays are the most symbolic and special. While I have experienced some of these myself, others I have to just conjecture as to their greatness. But I hope to celebrate all of these birthdays one day. Here are my Top 10 birthdays an individual can experience:

1. Sixteen – nothing compares to one’s 16th birthday. No one ever anticipates their "Sweet 32." No one ever sang “I am 28 going on 29.” Sweet Sixteen is the best birthday – the ability to have a driver’s license brings about the most freedom from one year to the next than any other birthday ever will. One goes from dependent on others for travel, to freely traveling. (Way too young, in my opinion.)

2. Twenty-one – this birthday signifies arrival to adulthood without the responsibilities of adulthood. Since one is usually still in college, this birthday allows the individual to feel like an adult without having to actually act like one. While I believe driver’s licenses are printed differently now, when I was 21, the “Under 21” stamp was officially null and void, adding to the perks of this birthday.

3. Fifty – half a century ranks as the 3rd greatest birthday year. A person can celebrate being alive for half a century, and, if in shape, can still feel young, yet can begin to get all the benefits of the elderly through AARP, discounts on meals, etc. At 50, one suddenly seems wiser than everyone 49 and younger.

4. Thirty-five – I could easily flip 50 and 35 in the rankings, but will choose to keep 35 here at #4. Our Founding Fathers, in crafting the Constitution, deemed 35 as the appropriate age for a President of the United States. I figure if Ben Franklin and James Madison thought 35 was a good age, then it must be a good age. At 35, one can run the country. To me, that is quite significant and special. A landmark birthday for sure.

5. Eighteen – It surprised me that 18 fell so low on my rankings. We do receive the right to vote at age 18, which to me is a very big deal; however, so few 18 year olds vote, so this must not be quite the perk that I think it is. It may be that being able to purchase tobacco outranks voting for many 18 year olds. I know one graduates from high school typically at age 18, but not on one’s birthday, so graduation from high school cannot contribute to the 18th birthday ranking. It is still significant though, as 18 is the unrecognized age of adulthood. Everyone over 55 considers 18 to be an adult, while everyone under 55 knows that 18 is far from adulthood.

6. One-hundred – This ranking definitely is dependent on one’s health, but to live a century is surely significant. Plus, Smuckers wishes you a happy birthday when you turn 100. However, turning 100 represents just 1% of one’s birthdays, so perhaps it falls lower on the birthday rankings. Still, a landmark that cannot be ignored.

7. Seventy-eight point four. The current life expectancy in the US is 78.4. When one reaches that age, there must be a feeling of accomplishment. However, it is difficult on a 12 month calendar to celebrate a .4 birthday. But still, if I reach my life-expectancy birthday, it will be a day of celebration that will rank in my top 10.

8. One – While a 1 year old will not remember his/her birthday, this remains the only birthday where it is cute to smash an entire cake all over your face and body. For that alone, it makes the Top 10.

9. Seventeen – One can purchase a ticket to a rated R movie. As a 17 year old, this was a big deal.

10. Whatever one’s current birthday is – While it makes little statistical sense, every birthday has to be on the Top 10 list. Being alive is a pretty good thing. I’m sure every year has its benefits and significance – 25 and car insurance(for guys), 30 and leaving the Twentysomethings, 10 and double digits, 65 and retirement, 29 and being a prime number, etc. So I’ll reserve the tenth spot for every birthday. It’s good to be alive.