HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

By Ruth B. Loving

During the course of living, a person happily pauses to congratulate themselves on having lived another year, and if they can celebrate that added birth date with family and friends, that person is filled with warmth and deep thanks. And when family and friends stop and take time out of their busy lives to celebrate and commemorate one’s special day, then time must be taken by that person to respond with a showing of warmth, hugs, kisses, big smiles and repeated thanks.

So, I would like to thank one of my closest friends and his wife, Mr. & Mrs. E. Henry Twiggs, plus the committee of my friends for planning a beautiful, elegant evening observing my 90^th birthday. The committee consisted of Helen Caulton-Harris, Joyce M. Wilson, Dora Robinson, Candice Lopes, Brenda Lopez, Darlene & Sherwin Anderson, John Bullock and his wife, Elizabeth Loving, B.A.N. staff, Anthony Gordon and Lou Boynton, CEO.

This senior reporter, Ruth B. Loving, was given a beautiful night to remember and many remembrances at the Sheraton Hotel on Saturday, June 12, 2004. The evening began with me being picked up from home in a long, white limo driven by Robert “CEE” Jackson and escorted by E. Henry Twiggs. Upon my arrival at the Sheraton, I was greeted at the reception table by a committee member with a red rose wrist corsage then ushered to my seat by Joyce M. Wilson and E. Henry Twiggs. Family members from New Haven, Connecticut were seated at the table of honor, which held a beautiful floral centerpiece from the garden of Darlene Anderson. As I looked around admiring the room, waving and saying hello to family and friends, I was told to be seated and Mrs. Helen Caulton-Harris, acting as the M.C. for the evening, began the festivities. Meanwhile, Candice Lopes and Karen Twiggs handled the guest-listing checklist. Joyce Wilson helped with the flow of guests and gifts. John Bullock, band director of the group, “Loose Caboose,” provided the background music. Among the guests were Mayor Charles V. Ryan, City Council President Dominic Sarno, State Representative Benjamin Swan, Councilwoman Kateri Walsh, Rev. Alfred L. Johnson of my church, Gardner A.M.E. Zion, and several church members, Rev. Willard Cofield, and a large group from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

My church’s presentation to me was one of the beautiful highlights of the evening, along with presentations from the City of Springfield, City Council, Senator Linda Melconian and others. I also received six lovely rose bouquets, books, a certificate for karate classes, etc. The meal was wonderful and the guests were well pleased. I was hugged and kissed over and over and given wishes for a continued long life. If you were not there, you missed a beautiful party.! n