To the best family in the world!

Well… I made it! Unfortunately there are no fireworks, trumpets, parades...etc. In fact I can’t quite tell the difference between yesterday and today. Oh well - C’est la vie.

Now that I have got that out of the way. Where should I start? In an email last week to Mommy, I tried and failed miserably to convey to her how grateful I am for the life I was given and how lucky I am to be me! Let me try again.

It all started on Wednesday May 18th 1977. I can’t remember exactly what time. I was too busy deciding not to breathe. Hey we all make choices in life and that was one of my first decisions without the help of my mother. That should have been a glaring sign of things to come. You guys gave me the benefit of doubt and I continued on. I am pretty sure people made comments like “oh what a handsome / cute baby “. Look I have seen the pictures, let’s just thank God I kinda turned out okay. By the time I went to Kindergarten, at 3 I was already getting all the credit. He must be very smart... I am 30 today and I can say without any doubt. No kid is born “smart”. By the grace of God, some kids learn a little quicker. There is no way I was able to read and write by the age of 3 on my own. Thank you everybody. Then there was that oh so fateful day. I at least for one day followed in my father's footsteps, held a Bible in my hand and in front of a crowd which must have been millions and millions of people who came just to see me say; “…I am a pastor. Am I not important?” and they all responded unanimously “Yes you are”. Millions of people can’t be wrong! Oh by-the-way this was actually Gladys’ graduation, but it was all about me…well so I thought. Then reality struck; somebody had the brilliant idea to have a foot race after it rained and it was all muddy and I had on my coordinated canvas shoes, did I mention the sun was also in my eyes and I was distracted by my family screaming “Go Bruce! Go Bruce!” Not to mention everybody else was older than I am. I consciously decided to give the other kids some of my limelight and graciously came in… well lets just say I wasn’t first. No wonder I always wanted to be bigger and older.

Now that I look back, growing with my family was nothing less of amazing. From me single handedly building the house in Etoug-Ebe. Daddy has picture evidence for anyone who might want to dispute this. To single-handedly clearing the place in Hawaii, to picking the house in Anguissa to live in, well Gladys and Daddy were there too, but only to observe my exquisite decision making skills. (My decision not to breathe when born not withstanding). Oh another memory that stayed in my mind was one day when Gladys and I waited for EVER after school and nobody came to pick us up. I was fine, it was Gladys I was worried about. At least that is my story and I am sticking to it! Well out of nowhere who should come walking but Steve. Oh, I have never been happier to see him, for Gladys’ sake of course. Then the was the Sunday swim in the pond dressed in my Sunday best. I still don’t see what the big deal was. Till this day everybody overlooks the most important point; there were fish in the pond! Anyway if I keep going at this rate it is going to take another 30 years to recount all the memories. How about this one. When there was the coup-d’etat and I was outside the gate and a soldier came running down the street. I have never seen Mommy run so fast to grab me back into the house. That I don’t understand either. Do the words Super-son not register? Well maybe she was still dwelling on the fact that Gladys and I decided to fall deathly ill with measles, mumps, I don’t know. I don’t even remember and that was like a decade earlier - I had not yet assumed my Super-son identity.

Seriously all the things that seemed so trivial then are so relevant now. That is why I nicknamed myself Bless. I am truly blessed. All I can remember are good memories, from Daddy wanting to celebrate EVERYTHING with “Poulet / poisson braissee”, Chinese food at the Chinese restaurant I can vividly remember. To taking us swimming and oh here comes another one. This must have been my first official test of my Super-son status. We were at the swimming pool towards Hawaii. I can’t remember the name. This was my first visit and I saw people in the pool and felt I could just jump in. How difficult can it be? Well I jumped right into the deep end! At least deep for me and for some strange reasons my super human powers didn’t kick in! I couldn’t breathe under water or stay afloat for that matter. Thank God Janet was right there and pulled my out. Thanks Janet don’t worry it wasn’t the last time your “Grand soeur” status came in quite handy. There was the time when my head got stuck in between the bars at Etoug-Ebe. Oh yeah and remember how I always used to fall and hit my head? Well you used to say I was going to get a bump at the back of my head. Well miss Cleo on my 30th birthday I am rubbing the back of my head and what do you know. There is a bump back there!

Daddy and Mommy, I cannot even start to describe what it means to have you as parents. Mommy once said she expects all her children to accomplish at least as much as the parents. Not in my wildest dreams. I tell my friends when they complain about their parents. I cannot remember my parents ever doing anything wrong. I didn’t even think they had an argument ever. Not to talk about your accomplishments. I remember I was in Secondary school one day and teachers just kept coming up to me saying tell your father congratulations. And I am sitting there going “what now”! Turns out Daddy was nominated for something else. I can’t remember which one that was. Then there was Mommy’s PhD. While I knew friends whose fathers didn’t have PhDs, both my parents had PhDs! It was great being me.

I just got interrupted by a phone call from Jade and Greg. Oh Lord you guys should hear Greg sing. Let's hope he gets a PhD or joins the NBA. Singing is really not in the cards for him - I am telling you guys. No exaggeration when I say - It is wonderful being me. I know sometimes life’s a …beach or like Daddy says; “La vie est un combat!” and I don’t feel like talking to anyone unless it is in person anyway. Deep down inside I know I have no reason to complain. If the next 30 years are anything like the past 30. This beats winning the lottery any day.

Oh and to my latest brother John. It might seem like you missed out on a lot, but when you and Janet got married - that was one of the most memorable occasions this family has ever had. It must have meant a lot to you and Janet. But if you remember after it was over and you, Janet, Gladys and I were seating on the balcony over looking the waterfall, sipping wine and thinking wow how did we ever pull this off. Believe me pulling something like that off in the Jato family is a miracle in itself. We can’t even travel without losing luggage. Anyway thank you for one of my fondest moments ever.

It is 8:00, I am running late and this is already turning out to be the best birthday ever. Thank you.

Baba Baa

P.S: Janet and John - I loved everybodys’ Christmas gifts and all but the Ipod is a thing of beauty. I take it everywhere. Heck it fits everywhere and I think that’s what prompted mommy to get hers. She has only had hers for a few weeks (which by the way she setup herself) and she already has thousands of songs with something like 74% capacity left. Remember I tried to take her to dinner and found out later how much that would have cost?! She settled for brunch. Thank God! Then I decided I was going to splurge and download “Sweet Mother” from itunes unto her ipod a whole .99 cents mother’s day gift. Just to find out not only did she already have it on there. She had the whole family movement album. Super-son indeed! Let me go before I turn 31!