In San Francisco, it's 3AM, June 26, 2008
In Shanghai, at 3AM, June 26, 1943, I was born
It's my 65th birthday

But, the anniversary of my birth was at noon June 25th in San Francisco

It's these kinds of dilemmas which occupy my mind most days

I am being taken to dinner for my birthday, this evening
I like the idea of going on one's birthday
Going a few days before or after are OK, but not as good as the real day
But which day would that be?

The tradition was started in the Tashman household when
we lived in Northern Virginia
My dad's favorite restaurant was a place called "Fan and Bill's"
It was a Steak House opened by New York restauranteurs,
who were friends of my dad from his days in New York
Prime Rib, sliced at the table, for my dad
Steak Diane or a fillet for my mom
Brent, had baby food and when old enough, copied his big brother

I had the ground sirloin
They ground their own sirloin, I never had anything like it
It was served on a wooden plank about an inch thick
The entire plank was rimmed with mashed potatoes
About an inch and a half was piped onto the board and the ground beef
along with fresh peas were placed within the wall of mashed taters
Immediately before serving it was placed under a grill so the potatoes
has spots of brown where they were just crisp enough to hear when the
fork began it's evening of round trips between plate and palate.

I love going out for my birthday

I also enjoy feeding us as part of celebrating my birthday

I just turned 65
And I have retired

For the past 40 years (with a couple years missed)
I held a party on my birthday.
It was intended as my present to you
A few times each year I am reminded when someone asks about a friend
they see every year at my party and wonder how they are doing.
I love it when we take interest in one another
I have collected some remarkable spirits over these 65 years
I love sharing you

So no five-bean chili this year
Or four-bean or three.
We'll find an excuse to invade Steve's deck later in the summer
and I can build a pot of beans for us then

I decided last year to not do anything this year
Then I started getting inquiries
So I began planning
Then I grew cold to the idea
Later I decided to have a modified party,
here at the beach and over two days
After plans for that fell through, I decided to skip this year
Let's see how it works out

I will miss seeing you
And I will miss looking at the wonderful photos each year
I encourage you to go to the Kate Wolf Festival
or the Monterey Blues Festival or to Stern Grove
Get together with folks and celebrate all of our birthdays