It is 12:05 in the morning as I write this. It’s my birthday today and I can’t believe I officially turn 38 today. I still act and feel like I’m 18! I can’t believe how time flies. It seems like yesterday when I turned 23 and came to Shanghai with 200 yuan on a cold and rainy night. I can’t believe I survived and thrived in this big and exciting city.

在我写这篇博客的时候午夜刚过。今天是我的生日，真得不敢相信我已正式迈入38岁，虽然我仍感觉自己像18岁！很难相信时间过得如此快；23岁生日的一个寒冷雨夜我怀揣200元来到大上海，这一切就像发生在昨天。很难相信，自己竟然在这个大都市生存下来了，而且活得还不错。

I have never had a birthday celebration and it didn’t matter to me at all. In my generation, it seemed that parents didn’t celebrate their children’s birthdays. When I grew up I always forgot and missed my birthday; after I got married, my wife is not good with remembering my birthday--she doesn’t feel guilty, because she knows clearly that birthday celebrations are not my cup of tea.

我从来没过过生日，也一点不在乎是否过生日。像我这代人父母好像不给自己的孩子过生日。等我长大了，我又总是忘掉或错过生日；等我结婚了，老婆也总是记不住我的生日。她也不内疚，因为她知道我不喜欢过生日。

I just don’t see the point in celebrating birthdays--people complain about getting older and yet they celebrate them every year. It’s not the moment to celebrate, it’s the moment to look back and be thankful. I’m thankful that my parents are not that old and they are healthy; I’m thankful that I have a great career, financial security, big house and beautiful wife…

我不明白庆祝生日的意义何在---人们整天埋怨在变老，而每年却还仍要为此庆祝。对我来说现在不是庆祝的时刻，而是回顾感恩的时刻。我感谢自己的父母还不算老，身体仍然健康；我感谢自己拥有不错的事业，经济稳定，有大房子住，还有一个漂亮的妻子……

I will not celebrate my Birthday today, but I have collected and translated some funny birthday quotes for you to learn good and plain English. Always remember: we learn best in moments of enjoyment.

我今天不庆祝生日，但我收集编译了一些有关生日的搞笑语录，供大家学习漂亮的平易英语之用。永远记住：快乐学习，效果最好。

1. How do you expect me to remember your birthday, when you never look any older?

你看上去一点都不老，怎么能指望我记住你的生日呢？（忘掉别人生日的最好借口）

2. The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

记住老婆生日的最好办法就是忘掉一次。（不相信的话你就试试）

3. Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.

生日对你有好处。数据统计显示，度过生日最多的人活得最长。（搞笑的废话）

4. Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.

很少有女人承认他们的年龄，很少有男人的行为符合他们的年龄。（大实话）

5. Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang, 'Happy Birthday".

上周蜡烛厂失火了，在场的每一个人围在一起唱起了生日快乐歌。（生日派对上讲笑话可以用的上）

6. I'll always think of you as someone older than me. Happy Birthday!

我时常会想起你……年龄比我大。生日快乐!（给比你大的朋友发生日短信时可以这样开玩笑）

7. You know you're getting old when you walk up the stairs and call it excercise.

如果爬楼梯时你美其名曰为锻炼，那说明你是真得老了。（我爷爷总是笑称爬楼梯就是锻炼）

8. Smile while you've still got the teeth. Happy Birthday!

趁你还有牙，笑一个！生日快乐！（好朋友生日派对照相时可以这样调侃）

Well, it’s really getting late and it’s time to take a quick shower and hit the hay. I’m sure I will wake up to a sunny morning and tomorrow will surely be better…

好了，时间真得不早了，该洗洗睡了。我确信会在一个阳光明媚的早晨醒来，也相信明天会更美好…..