Hola!

Forgive the delay in this message. I wanted to thank you and everyone who took the time to send me their video messages on my 40th birthday! 🥳 The thing is, I received that video just as I was taking off from Vancouver to New York. Then I had a 12-hour layover in the Big Apple for my big birthday, followed by another eight days in Madrid walking 20,000 steps a day. When I got back to Vancouver, I got sick—probably because I picked up a bug during our flight back home, or maybe it was because I returned to Raincouver, or perhaps my body finally said, “You think you can handle 20,000 steps a day?!”

When I felt better yesterday, I got slammed with a ton of work deadlines, which brings us to today! Yes, that’s a long excuse, but all I wanted to say is I have not forgotten. Today, I finally found a moment to sit down and say—thank you! I was extremely touched by that video. It made me laugh. It made me cry too! I appreciate you recognizing that I don’t look a day over 40. Hahaha! But trust me, my back pains remind me I am entering the geriatric era!

Anyway, they say life starts at 40, but really, my life started 40 years ago. I knew life before the internet or even before computers became mainstream. I learned how to type on a typewriter (always pinching my pinkies between the keys)! My source of home movies was Betamax or VHS. Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls were my favorite people in the world—along with Prince William with thick hair! Then I saw the transitions — from MySpace and Friendster, to Facebook and Twitter… from landlines to ice shaver looking phones to Nokia and then iPhone… from Siri and Alexa to ChatGPT and Gemini. And my golly — those AIs are a lot smarter than me.

But that’s ok. Now that I’m 40, I am much wiser. I think. Lol! I know I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room. I don’t think I ever was. I always just get along with the smartest, the funniest or even the nastiest. Then I try to be smart and funny too, but never nasty. If I was, I’m sorry. I should have never been. That’s not how my parents brought me up.

And that my friend is why I love acknowledging my four decade journey. Because in those years, I’ve learned how I want to be me. Because in those years, I’ve met you. And because in those years, my life has become more colourful, more beautiful.

So, thank you for celebrating my 40 years of life through your greetings. Even though I couldn’t party with you, know that I thought of you every single time I cheered with a glass of wine, a Jerez/sherry, or a cocktail, and thought how lucky I am to have you in my life and imagined the day we’ll be able to clink a glass together.

I’ve had a fantastic start to my 40th year, and I am certain the next 40 years will be great too. And just like this surprise video, I know my life will be filled with more surprises too. But I always take to heart the good ones — like you!

Again, thank you!

Rawnna