April 14, 2007 was the date of Ben's Bar Mitzvah. I didn't take pictures of the actual event, but once home, the tent was ready ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100049 with tables ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100050 and balloons ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100051 with a laptop ready to show the Ben video ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100052 and glasses, plates, ... ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100053 as we measured the location of the video stand ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100054 while the wait staff arrived ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100055 and we admired this pole that would support us ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100056 as Jane and Ben watched the video and Ed moved the shirts ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100057 to where Sarah sat ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100058 and the music stand was set ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100059 as Jane gave her final approval for the video ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100060 and the staff kept setting things up ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100061 as Jane caught the end of the video ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100062 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100063 and more setup was done ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100064 both inside ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100065 and outside the tent. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100066 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100067 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100068 Inside the house, there was setup ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100069 and in the kitchen, there was much preparation ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100070 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100071 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100072 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100073 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100074 as the bartender lit the lanterns ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100075 and we admired the entry ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100076 with Sarah and Ed ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100077 standing between the 2 sides of the steps ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100078 the tent in back ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100079 and the path down the driveway ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100080 in the process of being lit ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100081 so that guests would find the entry ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100082 even as the Main Street truck had brought all the food ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100083 and Ben and Sarah awaited the first visitors. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100084

And soon enough, some of Ben's friends arrived led by Andy Ie and Jeremy Sordan who were facing the camera ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100085 followed by Ann and Stan ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100086 Jeff Nunokawa ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100087 Ray and Andrea Sachetti ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100088 Dan and Nancy Rubenstein ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100089 and Adam and Nate Ash ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100090 at which point, Stan took a picture of me before ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100091 Lewis Siegel ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100092 Ed and Claire Percarpio ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100093 David Gespass ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100094 Emily Shea ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100095 and Carol and David Brown arrived. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100096 Next came the Kramer -- Josh, ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100097 Renee ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100098 Rory and Seva. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100099 And the neighbors, Doris Shea and Carol Mason ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100100 followed by John Shea and Paul Dimaggio ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100101 and then Carol Mason, John Shea and Paul Dimaggio ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100102 who were followed by the Gespass family of Pittsburgh ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100103 Janet and Erin Dobkin ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100104 and Erin and Greg Dobkin ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100105 then, Eric Dobkin ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100106 Paige and Larry Dobkin ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100107 and Peter Kramer who brought flaming torches for juggling. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100108 Next, there came Tony Klockenbrink ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100109 Joel Straus ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100110 and some friends of Ben, led by Kurran and Parker ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100111 delivered by Audrey Straus. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100112

While Will Dobbs-Allsop and Nate Ash stood outside ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100113 Alan Straus emerged from the dark ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100114 and in came Larry and Kathy Klockenbrink discussing whether I was or was not good at the NCAA pool ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100115 which was interrupted when Harry Cummins and Carol Alter entered ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100116 and talked to Kathy. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100117 Then we were back to relatives led by Dansyl ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100118 Dick and Fran ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100119 and Henry Leonard Gruber ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100120 Ellen and Brian ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100121 as Toba entered ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100122 and then Toba was here ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100123 paving the way for Carol Dembe and Stephen Field ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100124 and Polly Strauss ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100125 while Robert Levin took a call in the driveway. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100126 Richard and Lizzie Just arrived ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100127 and then I captured the whole Just family before heading to the tent for the party. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100128 There Sarah and Ed were watching the proceedings ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100129 as the other photographer worked ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100130 and Ben was lifted into a chair ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100131 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100132 and brought down. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100133 Next, Sarah was lifted ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100134 and twirled around ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100135 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100136 and finally, Jane was lifted ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100137 and twirled ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100138 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100139 as Josephine watched in the background ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100140 and Jane and Jeff enjoyed their meal ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100141 and spoke with Sylvia. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100142

Next, Ed appeared (but not with flaming torches) ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100143 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100144 and this movie followed ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100145.MOV ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah// before a final juggle ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100146 which set me off to see the Mexican station ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100147 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100148 and the person who was looking after it ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100149 as Andy, Katy and Danny gathered ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100150 and then Andy, Katy and Danny were joined by Debbie ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100151 as Larry posed with Rory ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100152 and then the Cummins/Alters were there ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100153 and Larry talked to Michelle ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100154 as Janet spoke with Erin ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100155 and Tony Klockenbrink seemed to be enjoying time in the tent ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100156 before Ann and Stan departed ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100157 as did Adele and Vera ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100158 while Alan Straus and the Percarpios chatted in the family room ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100159 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100160 until it was time for the Percarpio family picture. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100161 This gentlemen in blue then arrived to remind us that it was near to 11PM and time to wind down the music, though he let us finish the hokey pokey that was going on. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100162 Bill Slaughter still had time to pose with Kurran ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100163 and many of Ben's friends gathered near the basketball hoop to inhale helium ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100164 before the last 2 artistic shots that told us it had been a long (and wonderful) day. ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100165 ../../../Sabbat/2007/04.14-15.07BenBarMitzvah//P1100166