I was also with some older people yesterday, celebrating my friend’s

father’s birthday. Gerry, a first generation Irish immigrant, turned

70. His daughter and her husband threw an afternoon birthday party

for him, welcoming 30 or so of his friends in their backyard. After

the barbecue, after a few drinks, about 4 in the afternoon, they got

down to what they really enjoy: singing songs.

Almost everyone took a turn, especially the older folks. There were a

few Irish standards, one man’s hilarious version of “Delilah,” a

woman’s spirited George M. Cohan medley (which took place terrifyingly

close to the edge of the pool) and some songs from as recent as the

Seventies. Gerry himself has a beautiful voice and favored us with

“Jean.” I’m guessing it’s a part of Irish pub culture that this group

of mostly immigrants brought here with them, but it struck me as a

wonderful way to spend time with your friends and family. And then it

struck me that it’s a dying custom, something we just won’t see at all

30 years from now. Happy birthday, Gerry.