Steve and Betty Ashley - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
And so my daahlings, the sign of the Zodiac, Aries, ended, yesterday. But not before Gleaner's editor-in-chief, Garfield Grandison, celebrated his birthday. Now, unlike most birthday celebrants who go off on or around the date to mark the special occasion, the editor-in-chief went off on vacation before, then only to return to his desk a few days before his big day!
Also celebrating her birthday on the 18th was radio personality, the charming Rosamond Brown. And international financial consultant Steve D'Agostino also celebrated his special day as an Arian, and with wife, Tatyana Fedotova, took off for the north coast for a little fun.
Today ushers in the sign, Age of Taurus, with JDF chief-of-staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, celebrating his birthday today. Also celebrating is media executive, Neville James, who will be blowing out the candles on his cake tomorrow; The charming Diane Francis, of The Gleaner, will be celebrating her special day come Tuesday; and it's all systems go in Torontowhere Jannieve Gazzadier will be blowing out the candles on her cake.
Many happy returns y'all and Champagne toasts and beluga treats!
Tickets are moving fast
If y'all have not yet secured your tickets, then pinch yourselves as tickets to this Sunday's piano recital by internationally acclaimed concert pianist, Orrett Rhoden, are moving fast. And little wonder as the recital scheduled for the University Chapel, Mona, is not only Rhoden's first concert of the year, it will be his last before his much-anticipated Carnegie Hall appearance on the 6th of May. He will be making his fourth appearance at the famed location and y'all know music lovers will be in for a treat of the fabulously classical kind!
Luvs, wait for it as it promises to be a virtual feast, and nothing but!
My dears, they way the 'me generation' is going at it, it is clear that many regard marriage as a sprint, not the marathon it is. Consequently, no accommodation is made for the eventualities that materialise along the way. Many marriages fail, not for lack of love and good intentions, but moreso because of egos and the undue influence of equally good-intentioned busy-bodies, whose prescription of one size fits all, is enough to shake the foundations of the Great Wall of China.
There are many who are now divorced and/or separated, who up until the point of being advised by their spouse that they were calling it quits, were really "happily married folk."
And so while there are no one-size-fits-all scenario for happy marriages, the institution is still a fabulous one.
One of the beauties of a successful marriage is the joy that is created around the unit, This joy is not dependent on the approval of onlookers or external forces, but by the sheer energy and magnetism emanating from the union.
One such union is Steve and Betty Ashley! They do not look to their friends for their happiness, but have found happiness together, and in turn, continue to share their happiness with their friends.
Their story
Steve Ashley loves telling the story of how years ago he met Betty Stephenson, a sharp, witty, vivacious and beautiful woman, at the top of her game as one of the island's leading life underwriters. She possessed a remarkable sense of ease and self and her naturalness and easy charm were not only captivating, but positively arresting. In her he had found a rare gem - a woman bereft of guile and the social sophistry quite commonplace in today's society.
She, on the other hand tells the story of a charming gentleman, who was so completely at ease with himself that their chance encounter at a friend's place led to a friendship that saw them seeking out each other's company and spending so much time with each other, that when he proposed, it seemed the most natural development to their friendship.
That was 11 years ago as the lovely and vivacious Betty Stephenson became Betty Ashley in a marvelous wedding ceremony and fab reception described by guests as a power-wedding. And, really no surprises here, as Steve Ashley and his bride not only walked with kings and queens, they too hailed from the ruling social politburo.
To celebrate the event, they were special guests at the Guardsman Group's Friday evening power-soire at Old Hope Road, in St. Andrew, last week. Amidst the thrills, spills and drinks, the celebratory flavour of the evening made for a fabulous do and then some!
Dears, 'twas a charmer, and nothing but, as there she was, looking fabulously radiant and dressed to thrill; and he, looking his dapper urbane self, and cutting the perfect picture of matrimonial harmony, as they either singly and or together welcomed their guests, basking in the glow of their love and the compliments being heaped upon them.
Very special do
My dears, it made for a very special do, as there was no ceremony, just toasts by friends. As he did on their wedding day, best man Raymond Reece toasted the happy couple, by wishing them many more a happy years, after commending them on their first 11 and theoffspring of their union. Kenny Benjamin spoke of their kindness and warm-hearted nature; before the couple sliced into its oh-so-rich anniversary cake; then fed each other before thanking their friends for sharing in their special occasion. It was then time for more merry-making and carefree frivolity.
Among the guests were Indian High Commissioner HE Agrawaal; Head of Delegation International Seabed Authority HE Ambassador Satya Nandan; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; the simply fabulous Suzie Benjamin; Mrs. Valerie Juggan-Brown; Tanny Shirley; Harold Brady; Kathy-Ann Pike; Rajiv Bakshi; Fern Procter; Gary Barrow; Montego Bay-based businessman Lachu Ramchandani and a bevy of beauties; Vinay Walia; the lovely Sonja Sutherland Dumetz; Cmdr George Overton; the very charming Pamela Lawson; Robbie Epstein; the voluptuous Shelly-Ann Daley; Major George Kates; the trs elegant Maria Josephs; Junior McGregor; Seyon Hanson and his companion the lovely Marsha Wilson; plus several others.
