For various reasons, the birthday party plan I had for New Years eve is not going to work out. This is the way things usually work out for my birthday. I’m not the only one who doesn’t get a proper celebration, though. Kathy’s birthday usually comes while we are at a campground, because it is in the middle of July, which is the ideal time to take school-age children on an extended camping trip.

What we have decided to do is split the difference and have what we