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
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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).