hi ezr
just a little correction--- Toshi is a guy--- must have been the dim lights and the distance-----

hi Wyo
just to expand a little on the importance of that night
toshi has been studying english here for about a year--and hasn't been home in the interim---a few months ago he discovered bluegrass music(some of my cd's)and has been listening to it alot----------well his 20th birthday (in japan the 20th is the most important for a guy)was monday 9/27 and he wasn't able to go home foor financial and school reasons----- so a couple of friends of his and myself talked it over and we thought that it would be nice to take him to a live bluegrass concert for his birthday (we kept it a surprise he didn't know until he got there) well it got a little convoluted --- i checked in the local paper (Village Voice-if your familiar with NY) and couldn't find any bluegrass -- when i'm not looking i see bluegrass all the time--- well i was going to post a thread --but then i saw Easy Riders thread (thank you thank you thank you EZR)--and went ---- well we asked Jim Rymes (the leader of the group --if they would play happy birthday for toshi --a surprise for him --well at the encore they did it one better -- they called him up to the stage and played it for him --and let him remain onstage for the encore number ---- well when it was over all the musicians again wished him a happy birthday and shook his hand -- when he returned to us in the audiance --his smile was wrapped around to the back of his head he was so happy!! -- if you knew him (toshi) you'd see that he is one of the most unassuming and unaffected you will ever meet -- who takes joy in every kindness that is shown him--- --------- well that's the story ! thanks for asking !------------- thosp