My  actual birthday was on February 21. When people hear my name they sometimes ask me if I was born in June and my answer is “No but my parents didn’t like the name February.” I had a wonderful party at the old ‘76 house in Tappan, N.Y. on Sunday, February 25 at 3 PM. Originally it was supposed to be a brunch but it wound up to be a dinner with choices of Yankee Pot Roast, chicken, or salmon. The reason we were going to make it a brunch was because there were many senior citizens attending, who preferred not to drive home in the dark. The reason it became a dinner was because there was a performer doing many of her songs together with her band at 3 PM and we didn’t want to miss that. Her name is Judy Marie Canterino and we’ve heard her sing many times at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar in Nyack. She and her husband at one time had a Club in N.Y.C. called the “Half Note”.  After Judy’s husband died, Judy gave up that gig. 

My friend, John Bale, seemed to be looking forward to the party almost as much as I was. It was  especially devastating to us both when he got sick at the last minute and could not attend. I received many gifts from him the week before, such as a very special pizza, flowers, and a box of chocolates.  

Former neighbors of mine also had to cancel because, since they now live in South Jersey, they were hoping their daughter could drive them to the party but it turned out that she had other plans. Since they now live in Toms River, where my grandson, John and his family live, we will be getting together the next time I go there.  

The next group who showed up late was Jimmy’s former aide Amalia and her daughter, Daniella and her boyfriend. The boyfriend had a dog who Johnathan  knew was destined to be put to sleep because of cancer, but it was unexpected when the vet called to tell him that he shouldn’t let the poor dog suffer any longer and it was done the day of the party.  

Despite all these drawbacks, the party was a huge success. My granddaughter, Shauna got to sing a few songs. She introduced herself and as she says, that’s her passion and as her therapist says, she doesn’t let anything hold her back.  

There was one other screwup and that we can blame  on the post office. I sent an invite to Marg McLeod in North Branch but she never received it. She said  she would have come if she had received it. I did do a follow up but she did not get back to me in time.   

Now all I have to do is start planning my 100th birthday party.