MY SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY SAGA 2:

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

A scrumptious meal was laid-out.

Steve, Aurelio, Ted and Steve.

Ted, Me surprised by something, Drew and Bonnie.

A surprise birthday cake by Jen's mother was brought out by Steve.

Not just any birthday cake, but a huge, triple-layer Pineapple Upside Down Birthday Cake!!

Presents were nonexistent as requested, but the cards were a delight—one extra large card had Tina Turner singing, "You're Simply the Best," when opened. What a touching hoot!

There were Steve and Lee, Drew, Ted, Steve and Ray, Marilyn, Aurelio, Bonnie, Mari, Deo, Mary Ann, Jim and Diane, Winnie and Jeanine, Jen, Kevin et Moi there.

It lasted on into the night, breaking up about 1 A.M.

A MOVIE!

Diane, Kevin and Marilyn

Me and Steve. Friends for nearly THIRTY years!

Aurelio, Drew, Bonnie and Ted.

  ---a splendiferous start to my eighth decade.

MY SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY SAGA:

BIRTHDAY!

For some people turning 70 would be traumatic. But it was quite the contrary for me, Don Voth, it was dramatic! Dramatic in the sense of I felt no diminishment of life, but on the contrary


  ---an affirmation! 


I was looking on my past years in wonderous appreciation and looking forward to the time ahead. It was September 4, 2010.

Also my best friends Ray and Steve were throwing me a large party—a party, as it turned out, that was the best of my life. Oh, I've had nice birthday parties: surprise ones, big ones, small ones but this one was singularly red letter!

First of all, it was held in their 1730s double living room with double fireplaces
  ---a perfect setting.

Steve and Ray's Colonial home.

Second, it had a lot of my current best friends—from several cities. And third, it was a splendid party
  ---a fun time had by all.

Steve and Lee came all the way from West Virginia the day before. Therefore, sightseeing was in order. 

Lee, Me and Steve with Ted taking the photo at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

And six more were from surrounding towns and eleven from Milton.

The food was sublime, the company exhilarating and the setting grand with perfect weather. Lamb kebobs were perfectly cooked on an open fire in the garden. 

Winnie the cook.

Everyone had a good time.

Everyone's here except Steve, Marilyn, Aurelio and Kevin with Drew taking the photo.

Next, The Party.