As you get older you learn to appreciate special moments and occasions more then you did in your younger days when you assumed life was just filled with them. 

I don’t know if birthdays fall into that category because the last one in which I felt the need to truly celebrate was when I turned 21.  As far as those milestone ones, well, I don’t remember 30, my wife took me to New York and a Knicks game for my 40th, I think 50 was rather somber and frankly when I hit 60 back in February I was more in the ignoring mood. 

However my children wanted to do something and Jane jumped on board but we agreed for someone who despises winter the only way to celebrate at the Jersey Shore was to wait until we could do something outside.

Flash forward to Saturday when three months after the fact we gathered for my 60th birthday bash at Bum Rogers in South Seaside Park.  It was not a surprise but I did not know all the details except my wife has been on edge for weeks as we have suffered through a miserable weather pattern. 

The idea was to have the party outside in Bum’s Patio but some alternate plans were made so we had the ability to be both inside and outside. Turns out we got a break with the weather in the afternoon and the sun even made a long overdue appearance. 

It really didn’t matter because for a milestone birthday that I found rather depressing it turned out to be a really good time.  A great mix of family, neighbors and friends, good food, great atmosphere and lots of laughter (some at my expense of course). 

My wife Jane did an amazing job of putting it all together with plenty of help from Jerry and the people at Bums.   I don’t buy into 60 is the new 30. It’s still 60 but maybe not quite as bad as I thought.  At least for one day it wasn’t.

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