The Birthday Paradox

jhatpro · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:15 am Post subject: The Birthday Paradox

My sons and their wives and I are having a surprise dinner for my wife on her 75th birthday and I just discovered that another guest will also be 75 then.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because if there are at least 23 people in the room, there’s a 50-50 chance two people will have the same birthday.

But here’s the question: at our party should we acknowledge the other milestone? If you think we should how would you do it so it doesn’t seem like an afterthought?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

gstump · Heavyweight Member Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 934

A surprise birthday party is a significant event strategically targeting a person and hoping for the unexpected. No, the wife is Queen-for-a-day!
_________________
Schilke B5
Couesnon Flug (1967)
Funk Brothers Horn Section/Caruso Student

jhatpro · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:46 am Post subject:

Good answer. I think I’ll leave it to one of our friends to toast the other soon to be 75!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

Turkle · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:33 am Post subject:

I would, however, after someone else toasts, definitely welcome the other birthday celebrator to feel like the event is a little bit theirs as well - holidays and celebrations are always better shared!

Reminds me that last year we had a birthday party for my girlfriend at a bar in the neighborhood and I purchased a gigantic carrot cake (her favorite). We had probably 30 people there. I saw at the bar a total stranger happened to be celebrating their birthday with two friends. Heck, we had plenty of cake for three more, so I insisted that they join our party as co-celebrants. They fit right in and I daresay received many more cheers and toasts than they would have generated on their own. New friends were made and it was a great time.

So I would always recommend to err on the side of generosity!
_________________
Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3.

blbaumgarn · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2017 Posts: 705

I would recognize the other birthday person after first recognizing your wife! Being 68 myself each birthday is a "milestone" and we should celebrate them not yet being "headstones." Enjoy the party with "joi de vive."
_________________
"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush