The village park community room popped

Rented tables covered with blue cloths

Yellow daffodils centerpieces

My Aunt Phyllis brought.

The Whole Food salmon aromas

Filled the air.

Sunset hovered over the pool

Sixty friends, relatives and work mates

Honored me for my 50^th birthday.

The dead haunt me

From this life cycle event-

Mom, Sandy, Florence, Paul, Lynn and Renee.

Why do I have to dwell?

That this

Might be the last time I would see them

I loved performing

Did my lip synching of Barry Manilow’s

Who Needs to Dream When There Is You?

After a short speech thanking everyone.

I was a closeted writer at the time.