Ok, so it was in December but last year sounds more dramatic as we're in 2010 now. My honey turned the big 4-0 with a surprise party during the Thanksgiving weekend. He was surprised so the party was a success, even a low key affair, really. Mark wanted to invite people over for Thanksgiving, American-style, and encouraged me to go with a caterer so we could invite more friends and not be stressed! Way to go, Hambo! It worked out well and we had a fun time. I wish we could have had family and friends from the U.S., too, but with the quick timing and cost of flying everyone over it couldn't happen.
He also had a party of sorts with his global HR team, who happened to be in town for meetings on the day of his birthday. Dare I say he had more fun on this day since they made a big fuss, going out to eat and bowling (crazy, I know :) We also celebrated the day before (as a family) since he was to be out with his colleagues. Forty wasn't going too badly, perhaps even looking positive, until Mark pinched some kind of nerve that wracked his neck, shoulder and upper back with pain and left his arm numb. It happened right at midnight on his birthday, so the funny thing is that he kept saying; "The warranty expired! I'm broken, it's all downhill from here . . . " It took over a month to where he could move like he did before the incident, however he was determined to ride in the Hell of Ashdown bike race on Jan. 30th (35 miles, I think). It's a race named after the forest area from whence his decendants originated in England. It's the same 100 Acre Wood from the Winnie the Poo stories. It was very hilly, chilly, icy and difficult so Mark was just hoping to pedal like he was out on a leisurely ride--not wanting to push it since the course itself would do that! Of course, his competitive side always wins out and he turned in a 6th place finish (out of 100+ participants). Not bad for an old man, eh?
