I knew it was going to be a special day but I had no idea how special even when Janet and Larry showed up the night before and asked if we could go to the Hightstown Diner for lunch with Suzanne the next day (which we did) as they took brthday pictures of me and Suzanne and then Jane and Larry settled into the booth as did I and Suzanne and then Suzanne and I posed in this self portrait before recording the location and ordering this variety of soups starting with matzah ball chicken noodle clam chowder and ending with onion. This led to the salad and bread and drinks and then main courses punctuated by condiments before the last main course gave way to ice cream and this collection sign in the men's room as we made our way to the bathroom fixtures shop across the way and then home where Josephine had set forth a small snack as Jane and Ben Jason Sarah Fran and Dick (did I say that they also surprised me and appeared?) posed together and then as Dick and Fran and Larry and Ed were there though Janet chose not to pose even as the Pub Mix container was presented by Sarah before we left the food and Suzanne and Fran negotiated Suzanne's bracelet so that Suzanne could lead me to the real surprise at Marsillio's where people had gathered and I posed with Suzanne as Jason tried to conceal his excitement as I posed with Martha and the assembled roamed in less than ideal light before OtherJane emerged and the poker gang conspired (who knew) as the Rubenstiens and Steven Just spoke and Lianne and Julie posed while people gathered for food and admired the commemorative paperweight

as I found my food and the paperweight in the distance led to a conversation between Sam and Larry as Jackie and Michele bonded as there were speeches by Sarah and Jane , Ben and Jeff before the poker gang gathered to do their best DPD imitation and to speak these kind words before Dick and Larry delivered their toasts (or were they roasts?) that Jane captured on these video clips which allowed me to make a few remarks (heartfelt because I was truly overwhelmed).

The next day we gathered for a sorting of the goods (or, at least, of the paperweights) as Sarah Larry and Dick posed and Sarah took a phone call before we drove to New York and chose this umbrella room after Ed, Ben, Larry and Dick discussed the options and Ben had this hot dog as the preparer came forth with 3 more all nicely put together as Janet had her Chewy bar and Dick and Ed ate their hot dogs as I looked to the fallafel stand and Ben Dick and Ed Larry and Dick again finished lunch before we arrived at MoMA and were met by Spencer, the guide for our scavenger hunt and by Emily and Jim who just happened to be there.

Afterwards, there was a reception at the Princeton Club (who knew) with Suzanne Jane and Ben and Jane alone OtherJane and Peter and I together along with a few pictures across the darkened room before Suzanne and Martha posed as did Sarah and then there were the pictures of the tables starting with Rene, Peter and Josh then Fran, Dick, Larry and Janet DPD, Jeff, Richard, Sara and Steven Just and another of that group with Suzanne joining and then DPD, Ben and Suzanne with Sara and Steven Just as Peter Kramer offered me a toast and the room darkened once more before we saw the picture of my work environs as I chatted with Richard Just as the fruit lingered Sara and Fran said their farewells and we made our way out of the city and back to Princeton where I was given this appropriate shirt and we gathered for a late (and tire dinner) as the food and flowers and tired super hostess and birthday boy were all memories of a wonderful few days.

Back at work a few days later, I hosted lunch for Josh Shaevitz (PHY), Michael Hecht (CHM), Stephen Kotkin (HIS), Yelena Baraz (CLA), Matthew Salganik (SOC), Qasim Zaman (NES/REL), and Ned Wingreen (MOL).