This year, the first class of Baby Boomers turns 60. This is my class. On April 5th I turned 60 years of age, and today, June 26th, it would have been my friend Phyllis who celebrated this milestone. Unfortunately, as many of you know, Phyllis didn’t even make it to 50. In January, we lit a candle in memory of Phyllis for the 10th time. Phyllis Smith and I became friends when we were eleven years old. Through our childhood, we were cheerleaders together, performed in our high school water ballet, were officers in Pep Club, active in our BBG chapter and double dated to school dances. When I was 16, I didn’t want a Sweet Sixteen party, but Phyllis didn’t want to let the event go uncelebrated. So, she threw me a big surprise party/dance at her house. Phyllis was one of the most brilliant people I ever knew, and after Nicolet High School when I went off to start a family, she went off to become a doctor. Over the next 20 years, we had quick lunches in her hospital cafeteria when I was in town and only a few other chances to see each other. I was at her wedding to Dennis Sullivan, an orthopedic surgeon, cried with her at her brother and father’s Shiva and finally reconnected when Pete and I moved back to Milwaukee. Phyl and Dennis and 3 other couples formed the nucleus of our social life for the next ten years. The five couples got together at least once a month, most often at what we all called “Camp Sullivan” because of the indoor pool, outdoor tennis court and general size of their estate. Zechariah learned to water ski at the Sullivan’s summer home on Lake Oconomowoc. When I think of those barbeques, New Year’s Eve parties, times shared with all our children just being together, it is with a deep sense of gratitude for the time we did have. I miss Phyllis today on her birthday, and I will always miss her and think of her and keep the memory of a wonderful woman alive as much as I can. That is one of the reasons that I am writing this to you today. The other reason is that I want you to know how blessed I feel in my own 60 years. I am married to my best friend for almost 30 years, have 4 healthy, attractive, and, for the most part, well adjusted children, 3 brilliant grandchildren; my Mom and Dad, though frail, are still up and around and living in their home; we live in a lovely house in a beautiful neighborhood; I have a job I enjoy, friends to laugh and be with, the best dog in the world and a most pleasant and, mostly, peaceful fun life. I am blessed, and I thank the Almighty every day that I made it these 60 terrific years. This is not to brag or show off. It is to tell you that although I am blessed by the things I have, I am more blessed by the fact that I can appropriately FEEL blessed and KNOW that I should be grateful. This note is getting too long. Just understand that we should look to those things and people in our lives that make them special, and every day thank HaShem for those blessings. I do.