Forgive me, please. I'm an old man. I live in a nice house, have lurury autos and adquate income. My health is reasonably well I have no reason to be downhearted today but I'm very sad. I accept that there are tough periods in each life but today is sad. My wife psssed on several years ago after a very happy and successful 55 year marriage. We had three sons, all college graduates, 2 married with one giving me 2 grand sons and in turn the grandsons have give me 4 great grandbabies. Wonderful, beautiful childern, happy and full of life with two of the twin greatgraddaughters, now 5 five whose beauty outshines the sun. I would gladly die for any of them. I get to see them whem I travel out of state, from Arizona to Seattle. At my age it is difficulut because I don't see well and my hearning is going too. I have not seen them in 4 years, only photographs. Today was my 78th birthday and all day I anticipated phone calls and best wishes. I sat by the phone all day but I never received a call. They all keep very busy lives and as entrpernuers they worry about there businesses and keeping their lives togeather. I understand their problems but I still looked forward to my best wishes for this late period of my life. Would one or two of you kind respondents wish me happy birthday. I lurk in this NG every day and I know there are kind and decent posters who will cheerfully wish and old man his 78th birthday.