My wife turned 40 in November. I turned 40 last week. We both saw it as something to celebrate. After all, not everyone makes it to 40.
In general, I find that conservatives tend not to be bothered by aging. The things that are important to conservatives--God, truth, morality--are eternal. Our bodies grow old, and that's a problem to deal with, but the important things don't change.
I had an aunt who was diagnosed with terminal cancer man years ago. She was a conservative, and one of the happiest and caring people I've ever met. The cancer didn't change her fundamental personality. She took her cancer in stride, and still felt it was her responsibility to do good for those around her for as long as she could. She lived for three years after diagnosis with a cheerful disposition the whole time.
These urbane liberal types who worship themselves will often feel very distressed by the passing years. If self in this realm is all one has, then death means a complete annihiliation of all that is important. They hate the reminders that death is getting closer.
I doubt President Bush is bothered by turning 60. His highest value is serving God, not trying to have an endless youth.
You have to appreciate the fact that in the absence of printing real, objective news, the NYT can promote boorish banality at the drop of a hat if they think it makes Bush look stupid.
At least the memory of spending Christmas, 1968, in Cambodia isn't seared . . . . SEARED into his memory.
Perhaps the NYT should focus some of their overpaid, banal wordsmiths to spend a little more time on that!!!
Is there a picture of this? :-)