> Furthermore, when and why did 39 become
> the magical age that everyone wants to stop
> at? What's so dreadful about turning 40
> anyway? Why do people make such a big deal
> about 40, throwing big silly parties where
> everyone wears black, and they have black
> balloons and a black cake and black party
> favors?

Because we count in base-10. Although I've never heard of a party like the one you describe. And anyway, we all know that life begins at 40.

> Why is 40 looked at as that horrible halfway
> point where the first half of your life is over and
> the last half begins? Does everybody really
> believe they're going to live to be exactly 80
> years old? And why do people choose 39 as
> their year to stop having birthdays? Why come
> so close to the dreaded 4-0 before stopping?
> Why not stop at 35 or 27 or 19? (I've never
> heard of a 22-year old saying "I'm nineteen;
> that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!") Or why not
> be optomistic and stop aging at 43, 49, or 56
> ("I'm going to live to be 112!")

I'm not sure that there's a link between the age people are when they start lying about their age, and the age they expect to live to. But both 40 and 80 are round numbers (in base-10), and 80 is pretty much slap-bang in the middle of the life expectancy numbers.

Personally, I was 17 for about 4 or 5 years. Can't quite remember why, now.

> What if I'm only to live to the age of 56? That
> means I need to stop aging right now! Yessir,
> I'll be 27 until the day I die. That's my story and
> I'm stickin' to it.

I bet that'll confuse your grandchildren.

> Gri"haven't started a new thread in a
> while"shny

winter"It's a nice thread"mute