aron’s Birthday Bash

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Lady Angela, of Alpine Castle, was discussing what to do for the Baron on his special day. That day was the Baron’s birthday.

When Lady Angela brought up the subject, the Baron commented that it was that time of year again. “It seems that each birthday gets closer and closer in time. The 365 days go by so much faster with each passing year.”

With just three weeks to make plans, she asked the Baron, “How shall we celebrate your birthday this year?”

The Baron said, “Part of me wants to have a celebration that includes everyone in Lilliland, and part of me wants it to be a very quiet day. But, let’s have a party where we can invite everyone. Let’s put up large tents on the castle grounds and serve donuts and apple cider. For music, let’s have something very different.”

The Baron learned that the famous New Orleans Dixieland Brothers Band was on tour in Europe and he wanted to see if they would come to Lilliland.

With the Baron’s international contacts, the visit by the Dixieland Brothers Band was arranged for the birthday party.

The celebration day came and it was a beautiful clear day and everyone seemed to have a good time. The Baron was very popular with the people and it seemed that everyone was in attendance except the Baron himself.

Lady Angela went to the Baron’s study and brought him out to the party. He was in a somber mood. He told Lady Angela that perhaps the birthday event should have been celebrated quietly and alone, so the person had a chance to reflect on the past year’s activities.

The Baron agreed to make a brief diplomatic appearance at his party, but then wanted to be alone with his thoughts. At an appropriate time, when the party was beginning to come to an end, the Baron quietly left and went to the castle chapel to reflect.

The Baron was alone in the castle chapel with his thoughts. He asked himself whether he had spent too much of the year in personal pursuits of pleasure and not enough time devoted to the concerns of the people of Lilliland. A peace came over the chapel telling him that he was doing fine.