64 February 2022 The Birthday Journal The setting, one massive space, was swathed in resplendence. Purple and gold, the colour theme, it screamed “regency!” The formal dinner tables were laid out, with not a single cutlery out of place, the tables and chairs, elegantly arranged. Sparkling chandeliers, lit up the room brilliantly, glitz, glamour and splendour oozing all around. Pictures of the birthday boy, looking dapper in a black tuxedo, were spread across the stage in form of ‘spades’ game cards. The effect was powerful, stunning. It was almost as if one could hear, “Bond is back!” “And guess what? Joe Bee …is Bond!” The Birthday Journal caught up with the celebrant to get his personal reflection on attaining this milestone and why he chose to spend the day as he did. Can you reflect on your journey leading up to your fiftieth birthday and what it meant to you? My fiftieth birthday had a significantly different meaning to me, compared to the others, such as my fortieth. There was a sudden realization of how far I have come on my life journey, and the rationalization that I was more probably further away from the beginning than I am to the end. That made me appreciate more those who have helped me in diverse ways to bring me this far. That sense of appreciation made me decide to have a celebration of my fiftieth birthday that will bring friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances together to not only celebrate my milestone, but for me to take advantage of that platform to recognize and thank heartily those who have influenced and impacted my life significantly. So that was the essence of my fiftieth Embracing Fifty A Personal Reflection on Age, Milestones and the Art of Celebrating DR . JOSHUA BAMFO AKA JOE BEE
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