On Sunday when I visited a friend's house, folks were taking food into a house next door and there were balloons tied to the porch post saying, "Happy Birthday Poppa" ...

... so as I was leaving I went up to the front door, knocked, and asked whether Poppa was there, and before he appeared (from a room down a long hall, I think), three or four others were nearby, and I began singing the "Happy birthday" song.

Everyone was rather surprised and somewhat pleased.

Neighbour says they're good neighbours - and I've given them some veggies a time or two, last summer.

ole joyful

P.S. Actually, that friend's a former carnie, who gave me a red, round-topped hat a while ago, which I wore to the library today, as I'd expected, having had a stock involuntarily cashed out near year-end, that I didn't learn about till early this year, so expected to have to send a sustantial cheque with my income tax return yesterday ...

... but didn't.

I needed to pay something over $300.00 ... and am to get a refund, as my private pension carrier had withheld something ovr $500., last year.

Thought that I might need some grease to ease the sliding of all of the paperwork required into the envelope, though.

o j