The celebrations started a few days before. We didn't even invite Jane.
But, first Dean Karlan (who is not a dean)
came by to visit. Then, I went to meet Michele
at Triumph where this was our waitress
and Ken
and Perry
were there from computer science as I finished with Kyle
from Chemical Engineering and the beer
caused the expected effect so that I could get this collection sign
before we took group pictures of those who came
and those from computer science faculty
who didn't mind that I broke a glass
when trying to maneuver in a narrow place.
On Jane's actual birthday, We recalled
her previously recorded birthdays and then began the day's events.
I had a faculty lunch
with
David Stern (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology),
Erik Sorensen (Chemistry),
Harriet Flower (Classics),
Anthony Appiah (Philosophy and the Center for Human Values),
Brigid Doherty (German),
and
Margaret Martonosi (Electrical Engineering)
and again.
Back at home, Kara
and Joel
appeared and posed for a family picture
before Joel and Ben
did a few tries at their twin brother act.
Meanwhile, the table was set
and Jane
had one
then two
balloons that delivered the important message. Josephine had
made elegant vegetables
to go with the birthday cookie
and Jane was made blissful
by flowers
in every direction no to mention the meatballs
from Olive's. It took me two tries
to get a proper self portrait because of the horn. Then, Jane modeled
one
and the other
shirt from the Szabo's and the monopoly boxers front
and back
that dwelt on her concept of a mortgage.
There were grape leaves
and tortillas
but we kept thinking about dessert
as Suzanne
and Ben
also studied the chocolate
that caused us to put candles int he cookie
as Ben removed the struts
and seemed to suffer
while aiming to make a sculpture
from them. The candles came
as did the sparklers
and bit by bit
things got lit while in the background
we thought about how to light even more
and the first sparkler
which shone as the second
and third
and fourth
were lit. AS the candles burnt down
Jane went at it
until all were out
and we could cut the cake
hand out the slices
and begin to open the gifts starting with Ben's sea horse
Grandma's gift certificate
and some cards that barely photographed
as Suzanne read
and Ben did imitations of a monster
of a convict
and of a 10 year old
which inspired Jane to start with the clothes
while Ben brought out his library book
which took better
away from the bright gold as Jane
tried on more clothes and we made more progress
on the birthday cookie and one last present was opened.
