Happy birthday, Cancers!!! Most of my family are Cancers. Apparently the summer months were just for practice and the amorous early fall weather proved most successful for expanding our clan. My mother, cousin and maternal grandfather are all June 29th, I am July 2nd, my maternal great-grandmother is July 12, my paternal grandmother is July 14th and my father and aunt are July 15th. So we are a bunch of emotional, moody homebodies that are fiercely protective.

This can be quite kumbaya-ish at holiday dinners if we are all in the same mood. If we disagree, plates can be thrown. I love being a Cancer and I have been told more than once that I am a very stereotypical one by my astrology studying friends.

This year, I had a big birthday. The big 4-0. Insert appropriate (or inappropriate) "over the hill" joke. So far, "being 40 is fabulous", said in my best Carrie Bradshaw voiceover, but at times, I can definitely tell that Toto ain't in her 20's anymore. So what changes when we hit 40?

Well, I would say that grey hairs could pop at 40, but thanks to the fabulous talents of my stylist and friend Christophe Jouenne, I have the exact same hair color I did when I was 6. It's my natural color, just maybe not at 40. I have absolutely no idea if I am greying and I plan to keep it that way. Thanks, Christophe!

Speaking of hair, does anyone remember when Rosie O'Donnell had her talk show and one season grew a chin hair? She had the ability to laugh at her aging self and made her chin hair a punchline. She even tried to put a bead on it. Not that the 40 year old me has sprung a grove of chin hairs, but I feel like since I spent most of the 1990's over plucking my eyebrows to the point that they won't grow back, my long lost eyebrows may reappear on my chin.

I have laughed a lot in my 40 years and have the lines to prove it. I have also basked in the sun and love those healing rays we are now supposed to avoid without protection. Modern cosmetics help me maintain what I think is a youthful glow, and my 40 year old face and décolletage loves being pampered with them. Lines and freckles don't bother me a bit as each generally tells a fabulous story.

Sometimes I feel like I need to take jumper cables to my metabolism but I still make it to the finish line with perhaps more enthusiasm than in my youth. But of course the 40 year old version does it with more fiber, less french fries and a better appreciation for top shelf alcohol and fine wine.

Some things may have started to shift, but my bust line still makes it in the selfie so nothing has flown south thus far. This is totally fine as I hear when you reach 50 and beyond you pee a little when you laugh. Which in my world, is certainly going to cause problems.

So to answer my question, what changes when you hit 40? Don't sweat it, just keep being beautiful you and never mind the number. Sincerely, Me