Another birthday: I'm 40 with 18 years experience or 14.444 measured in Celsius

Today, I have one of those birthdays again that seem to be creeping up more quickly every year.

I don't try to get to hung up on birthday celebrations and the like.

That's really pretty superficial and I'm content just to spend some family time, which worked out well this year because my birthday was one day after Easter Sunday.

I share my April 25 birthday with famed journalist Edward R. Murrow (1908), jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917), actor Al Pacino (1940) and actress Renee Zellweger actress (1969).

We actually observed four April birthdays in our immediate family this past weekend -- father-in-law (86 years); grandson (6 years), son-in-law (31 years) and my birthday, which logged 58 years.

That's a lot of family heritage in terms of years and I'm very thankful that I was able to share this special time with some of my fellow April birthday observers -- even if it was a cool, wet day in my hometown in Perry County.

Age is just a number and some days I feel much older than 58 years when my bones are aching as I roll myself out of the bed.

However, most days, I actually don't really feel that old and many of the folks who know me closely would attest to the fact that many days I sure don't act my age -- which can be a good and a bad thing.

Using the logic from comedian George Carlin's 1997 "Brain Droppings" book, if I'm 58 years and that's 14.444 measured in Celsius.

Now that sounds much better than 58, don't you think?

My late mother for as long as I can remember, always said she was 39 and holding, when someone asked her how old she was.

And, you could say that I'm 40 with 18 years experience.

Former astronaut John Glenn once said, "There is still no cure for the common birthday."

And, I once read a quote from an unknown author that says, "We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it."

Nonetheless, I am grateful that the Good Lord has granted me another year on this earth, continuing to enjoy a wonderful, loving family and friends who exceed my expectations when it comes to forgiveness, mercy, grace, understanding, compassion and care.

They are my love and inspiration and I could never thank them each enough for what they do for me every day.

Thanks also for the dozens of Facebook friends and others who took the time to wish me "Happy Birthday" over the last few days. I am humbled and in awe of the outpouring of greetings.

I also appreciate what I am afforded in this job, to inform, educate, provoke thought about the daily news happenings in our community. It's a big responsibility, but each year that I'm in this business gives me a better appreciation for the opportunity that I have.

There are times that this newspaper gig I do for a living can get frustrating, but then I am reminded of scripture passage in 1 Corinthians 15:58, which reads in the New Living Testament, "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

While we're talking about birthdays, I was curious about what is the most common birthday and found out with a few keystrokes and a Google search.

A recent database query conducted by Anybirthday.com suggests that Oct. 5 is the United States' most popular birth date. It seems that on average more people are born on this day than any other.

According to the study, an average of 12,576 people are born each year on Oct. 5. It also suggests that some 968,000 Americans celebrate this day annually.

What makes this early October birth date so fashionable?

Oct. 5 holds a not-so-surprising significance, as conception would have fallen right on New Year's Eve.

Which birth date is the least common? May 22 with an average of 10,259 persons born each year.

Nick is assistant editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487; by e-mail at schneider.nick@gmail.com .