To celebrate John’s birthday, we went to the restaurant where grandson Nathaniel worked for the past two summers. As the camera came out, son John $ adroitly offered to take our photograph, thereby getting on his preferred side of the camera. I took comfort in knowing I could erase anything I didn’t like.
John likes that restaurant for one particular dish, which they do well. All their food is good, but I go there to bask in reflected glory. One of the owners generally cruises the dining room, and John lets her know we are Nathaniel’s grandparents. Last year she beamed on us and told us what a marvelous worker he was. This year she called over the other owner, and he joined her in praising our favorite chef-in-training. Their words were glowing, and I took in every syllable. I looked at my plate and took myself down a notch. If Nathaniel had been working there, he would have peeled the potatoes.
Later we had John’s favorite dessert, angel food cake with strawberries and whipped topping. As we sat on the porch, we told $ that we’d heard coyotes howling in the pasture the night before. We’d never heard them so close or so persistent before. Although we were not frightened, he assured us that no coyote had ever killed a human.
The next morning, John saw the single candle left from the night before and stuck it in a biscuit. It was his official birthday, after all. Normally I cannot do two things at once, but I did that time. I pulled out the camera to take a shot of this shady character, and I sang Happy Birthday. $, right beside me, declined to sing. If you listen carefully, you can hear his silence.
Mehrling Muse 
Cute!! I like the lo-cal cake. Mine are packed with calories. LOL
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Those who don’t need lo-cal often choose it!!! I want dark chocolate icing, an inch thick.
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How decadent!
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Happy Birthday John!!! You both look smashingly good.
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Thank you. The picture was taken before we crammed our faces full of delicious food. What would you choose for a birthday meal?
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Happy Birthday, John! Looks like a wonderful birthday! You two look spectacular 😊🎉🎁🎂
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Thank you. Wish I had a picture of our son who is a little more than half our age.
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It’s been a long time since I had an angel food cake. When I was a kid, my mother made them often. Now I am hungry for one! Happy birthday John!
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John says come down here and share his. We take the easy way out and buy one a year at the supermarket.
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My mother made from scratch! I buy a mix. Thank John for his kind invite (if he didn’t already eat the whole thing!).
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He will make another big dent in the cake tonight. Soon!
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Happy birthday to John!!!
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Belated birthday wishes to John. Son John $’s silence was deafening but since I’ve never heard him sing that might be a favour he did us.
xxx In Tune Hugs xxx
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He sings nicely if he doesn’t think you can hear him.
xxx Musical Hugs xxx
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What a delightful account-your wit is dependable-Happy birthday to John-may this year be beautiful and followed by many many more! love Michele
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I delivered your message to John. He knows you, because I talk about you all the time.
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awwh- I know John too! love Michele
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We may have to have a reunion some day!
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we just might! I declare, I have thought how nice it would be if we all could meet! love Michele
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I was surprised at how well I felt I knew two bloggers just by writing. Meeting them face to face was icing on the cake — not necessary, but most exciting. We bloggers are writers, so we tend to write clearly and read with understanding. That puts us ahead of the general population.
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I agree -oh to see you, Faye, Cobs, Beverly and so many more. I am so very glad we met!! love Michele
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Yes! I’d love to see them, too. I have hopes of seeing a full-time RVer who has a brother living in Asheville. I had just started following her when she was in this area. Next time…..
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I am glad Florence didn’t mar John’s birthday plans in the least. You both are beaming and that is a great picture of the two of you, and of the birthday boy with his cake and biscuit. 🙂
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The weather didn’t get in our way.
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Dear John,
Happy birthday to you. Thank you for sharing Anne with us. She is an angel herself. The sweet words of the restaurant owners would have been a great birthday gift. May you run many more trains.
Anne,
The photo was so cute of the two of you. If I had one like that, it would adorn our show case( front room cupboard).
Susie
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I’ll send your message to John. He will really enjoy it.
Isn’t there someone who could take a photo of you and Anil?? Maybe one of your daughters would do it
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Maybe—. But we wouldn’t look as good as you.:)
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You’d probably look much better.
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Happy birthday John. What lovely celebration.
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So glad it was a wonderful celebration time. Loved seeing the pics and knowing $ was around to celebrate with you.
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Belated best wishes to John.<3
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Happy Birthday John! Great pictures and what a grand place to celebrate.
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John enjoyed his birthday this year, as he does every year.
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Many Happy Returns to the lovely John!
Is this the moment I sing.. “21 today, 21 today. He’s got the key of the door, never been 21 before … .. . ” etc.
Ah … just thought … you might not know that song in your corner of the world …. so …. I give you a link to YouTube where you can hear it….
GREAT post Anne. Fabulous photos. ~ Cobs. x
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You are right. I had never heard that song before. Thanks for the link. I’ll have to play it for John.
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I love your photographs and moments from John’s birthday. Happy Birthday, John! I would beam with pride over Nathaniel too. I adore my grandsons and grand-daughters and can only imagine I will love them even more the older they become.
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Yes! The longer grandchildren live, the more you love them! I’m glad you have a nice collection of them.
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Thanks Anne.
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Happy birthday John & many more in good health!
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Thank you.
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Happy Birthday to your John!! Wow that angel-food cake with strawberries & topping – mmmmm I’m drooling, looks so good! Great pics as always, Anne! And $’s too! 😀
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I’m just remembering this is Thursday — a red-letter day for you!!!
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Yes! He’s still about 2 hrs away. It’s a pretty long slog mostly in a 2-lane highway exc for the last bit, the bit he’s on now which is 4 lanes at least. My stomach’s been so nervous all day. Such a long drive for him. All previous times he came were by bus.
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I’m happy for you and hope he will recover from the long drive easily.
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Detours galore!!!! He’s still 40 minutes away!!!! Might write a blog post about this saga!!!
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Waiting is never easy.
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Endless construction! Inadequate signage!!!
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Ugh! The highway to heaven should be smooth and quick.
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We will do a blog post on the insanity he encountered!
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Sounds good. I’ll look forward to it and to feeling sorry for him.
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Belated birthday wishes to John, I love how his one candle cake went from very big to very small. That picture of the two of you is beautiful, definitely worth framing!
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Thanks for the birthday wishes. I’ll pass them on. John has a great sense of fun, and we laughed at the candle in the biscuit.
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