43 years

Tuesday, Dec. 22, will be my 43rd birthday.

I remember when I turned 28. I had been at the Deseret News for almost two years. I was humbled because I made it past 27 — the age that Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and former Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones died. And a few months before my birthday that year, Kurt Cobain committed suicide.

He was also 27.

I felt I passed a milestone. And if all goes well and I don’t die before next Tuesday, I’ll pass another milestone — I’ll be older than Elvis was when he died in 1977.

Technically, I already am because he died in the summer, but it will feel good to reach 43, although I still feel like I’m 17.

Peace.