I like to have my Mom & Dad over on weekends for dinner so we can reminisce, enjoy some good food, listen to music, and just have some fun times together.

Mom & Dad are in their 90s, and I'm not all that young anymore either, but we like to enjoy the time we have left.

Never forget, life is short, and try to make every day a little bit special if you can.

We look at life kind of like Mfu when remembering Equiano (1789):

Equiano said: "We are almost a

nation of dancers, musicians, and poets."

And although we're more, 

much much more,

let's have a revival - 

Why not celebrate?

If nothing else,

it can't hurt to celebrate survival.

Mom had wanted to get me something for my birthday a while back, and I suggested a Lois Armstrong album or two, to commemorate when Mom took me to hear Louis play in a parking lot concert at the Lloyd Center shopping center in Portland, Oregon, when I was a little boy, many many years ago now.

Hearing Louis changed my life forever - I've loved jazz ever since!

For my birthday presents I picked out Ella Fitzgerald's and Louis Armstrong's Ella and Louis and Ella And Louis Again, both in mono on 45 RPM vinyl from Analogue Productions.

So after an enjoyable dinner of lobster & filet mignon grilled over mesquite in my backyard, carrots in butter & brown sugar, a baked potato with all the fixings, and Champagne to drink (chocolate cream pie & coffee for dessert), we settled down in the living room to listen to a little music.

First I showed Mom my new turntable, the Garrard Player System 2015: "Oh that's beautiful!" she said.

Then I pulled out the two albums she got me for my birthday and had her sign them for me, to serve as a sweet remembrance of the times, creating memories to be cherished later on.

"Happy Birthday. Love, Mom"

That's as nice a birthday present as I could imagine - thanks Mom!

Then we sat down on the couch for a little music listening.

I'll tell you what, good company, good food, good Champagne, and listening to Ella & Louis in mono 45RPM, played with an Ortofon SPU Mono CG 25 Di MkII cartridge ... well it just doesn't get much better than that!

From my home to yours, may the music playing make you and yours happy too!