So there I was, sitting in the graphics department and putting together yet another supplement under yet another yucky deadline, tired from overwork and the knowledge that I still had another huge project to finish over the next few days. And everything was going wrong - computers were crashing, articles were lost in cyberspace and tempers were short.

Then Chani, lovely Chani who never forgets, called to wish me a happy birthday.

Smadar, who was doing the graphics, overheard our conversation and said, "Oh, it's your birthday! Mazal tov! Is that why you're in a bad mood?"

Startled, I said, "No, I'm just really tired and pissed off because there's still a lot of work to do. Why should my birthday put me in a bad mood?"

"Well," said 24 year-old Smadar, "You know, 'cause you're getting old."