I woke up this morning and one of the first things I heard on the news was that Madonna turned 50 today.  I realized that she was getting up there, but 50? 

It's just so strange to think that a woman like Madonna is now at the half century mark.  It's almost like you expect her to be 30 forever -- especially with her still cranking out the music and touring as if it was 1990.

I remember it like it was yesterday ... the summer before sixth grade and I had just watched her new video, Vogue on MTV -- or was it VH1?  I had that Neo-like, "woah" from The Matrix.

She really was a major pop culture figure growing up in my generation (and of course she still is).  But to put in better perspective, Madonna was to boys in the 80s what Marilyn Monroe was to them in the 60s. 

It's definitely a different world now than it was twenty years ago, and Madonna at 50 years old signifies it ... that and I'm getting older.  It seems to be a recurring theme with me lately, isn't it?  Maybe it's that 30th birthday coming up in six months.