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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

What A Wonderful Day

Late Tuesday morning. I was so excited. This very evening four wonderful women... Jasmine, DaVerne, Gwen, and Barbara would join me in celebrating my sixty-ninth birthday at my favorite restaurant...Wok Teriyaki.


Wednesday, September 9, the feast of my patron, St. Peter Claver of the Society of Jesus, is my actual birthdate. But my dear friends had appointments they had to keep Wednesday, so I was delighted to say "yes," when Barbara asked me if having a meal together Tuesday would be ok. "Ok? Absolutely wonderful," I replied.
At four o'clock I came to Gwen and Barbara's office all bedecked in my clerical finery and Barbara drove me to the restaurant. Gwen and Jasmine came a few moments afterwards. Daverne came later and we reminisced and laughed and shared stories and ate wonderful food.Barbara took this picture of the happy group.












Jasmine took this one so that Barbara could be in one of the pictures. I was just beaming in both. Gwen is sitting at the head of the table, DaVerne is next to her, I am just glowing in third place, and Barbara is beautifully posed at the front of the picture."I've come along way from the young college student who was afraid to speak to a beautiful young African American woman," I thought. Thank God I survived long enough to enjoy this wonderful day.



6 comments:

Kim Thompson said...

Happy B-day! I sent you a b-day card and a little Facebook greeting. What a wonderful world with you in it!

JosephMcG said...

That's a two way statement, Kim, I am so very happy to know you... have a great day...
(I went to the gym today and got into one of those "Christian" conversations... this one was one the rapture...
This one fellow had been hovering over two African American women talking about religion... "people coming from different experiences getting into it..." I was glad not to be part but I got stuck with the rapture conversation at the entrance door when I was headed out..
so, tapping the fellow on the shoulder I said, "you know nobody left behind is going to be concerned about folks who have been taken..." he said something like what do you mean... and I responded, "the only one who cares about who's going and who's not is you..." "I'm not concerned," he said..."then why are you talking about it," I responded...
I got into my car, chuckling on the one hand and sad on the other because I really wish I had just said "excuse me," and went to my car...
oh well, it's done, huh... on with the day

Jaynie Jones said...

Birthday greetings to our cherished friend! May this be the best year yet... --Charles, Jaynie, and Mattie

Maggie Albo said...

Aren't you the lucky man! Always surrounded by lovely women and at your favorite restaurant,no less. God must have been smiling the day you were born because she gave to the world a great guy, a good man and a wonderful friend! Happy Birthday, Joseph!!

Lorraine Hart said...

Sorry I'm late to the party Joseph!! Wishing you many happy returns of the day.

I propose a party next year! Lox

JosephMcG said...

The party goes on... I am going to celebrate my birthday every day until my seventieth birthday by choosing to be accepting and caring for myself and all other living creatures...