Black balloons
Over the hill banner
Tombstone lawn decoration
RIP my thirties sign
Black roses
Lights off before they arrive
Surprise shouted at the door
Guest arrives in work clothes
Bottle of wine handed over
Beer opened on the patio
Taco bar set up
Guests crowd the kitchen
Black icing on the cake
Candles blown out
Smoke alarm goes off
Kid swipes some frosting
Kid rolls their eyes
Kid yells out the age
Kids sent to the basement
Handmade card from the kids
Kid asks to go home
Dog underfoot at the party
Sympathy card as a joke
Reading glasses handed over
Cane with a bow
Prune juice gift
Gag pill organizer
Gag gift gets a laugh
Gag birthday hat worn
Someone says big four oh
Forty is the new thirty
Asked how forty feels
Gray hair pointed out
Someone groans standing up
Squints at a phone screen
Old prom photo on display
Old band shirt worn
Mortgage rates come up
Guests talk about their kids
Guest leaves for the sitter
Nineties song comes on
Dancing in the living room
Best friend starts a roast
Toast turns sincere
Guest of honor says thanks
Someone mentions work tomorrow
Someone starts cleaning up
Someone checks the time
Goodbyes drag by the door
Party winds down by ten