This year, 2017, will be the year that will usher in the grand age of 65 for some very close friends. The first one to turn the big 65 is my dear friend Pattie, who has a January birthday. Ms. Pattie starts the birthday ball rolling. Now to celebrate this “I can’t believe I’m 65!” 
Here she sits, Ms. Pattie, the birthday girl (on the left) with her sister (on the right, of her left). It was her sister who gathered the grand crew and suggested we go to IL Bacco Ristorante Italiano Restaurant in Little Neck, NY. 
My favorite part of the dinner was the bread and cheese, placed on the table as a pre-dinner treat. I could have made the bread and cheese my main meal, the cheese was cut off the right block. But we did have to order the main dinner.
Chicken Franchise and Veal Franchise was ordered and even though these dishes were not listed on the main menu, Il Bracco had no problem completing the request.
Il Bacco had specials of the evening, which we ordered, such as a sumptuous SwordFish, a Risotto dish swimming in a white sauce and covered with shrimp and calamari.
And so we ate.
We sang Happy Birthday, after the one candled cake was brought to the table. I don’t think Pattie wanted to see more than one candle on her birthday dessert.
Well, here we are.
We always have plenty to talk about, always plenty of laughs, and as always the last group to leave Il Bacco.
The night was not totally complete, you see, two of the grand crew couldn’t join us 🙁
Yes, they missed the fun, and we missed them.
Till the next celebration.
2017 has just begun.