Saturday night, we celebrated our friend Ed Gulley’s 64th birthday at a restaurant named Mickey Cohen’s restaurant in Schaghticoke, N.Y.

We were started to see just how big the Gulley’s family is, there were more than 20 people there, children, partners and grandchildren.

I admit it was a jarring contrast for Maria and I, we just about never go or are invited to family gatherings, and it was a treat to see this sprawling and diverse and loving farm family gathered to celebrate another milestone in Ed’s quite remarkable life.

Ed is an amazing human being, and I am lucky to have him as a friend. We were talking about Maria’s upcoming trip to India and Ed turned to me and he said “you know, if you ever need anything at any time, you call me and I will be there.” And I knew it was  true, it meant a great deal to me to hear it.

Ed and Carol Gulley are important to us, they are good friends, and while they always invite us to join in their family gatherings, we are always a little reluctant to do it. We are both uncomfortable in large family gatherings, for many different reasons.

But you could soak up the warmth and connection in the family, their love of Ed and Carol, their ease with one another. I am sure they have their troubles – every family does, but it seemed we were celebrating a way of life as well as one person’s birthday.

Maria and I can hardly join anything, but we love being a part of the Gulley’s life, it is a gift to us.

Farm families are close and entwined in a way that is becoming increasingly rare in America, and I don’t get to see too much of it. We felt quite at ease there, laughing and talking, there is a special kind of tolerance and acceptance among many farm families, they are quick to open themselves up to you.

It was a nice evening. I have great admiration for Ed and for Carol as well. They are opening up their busy lives to new experience, to art and creativity, to learning and growing. You can follow their amazing journey on the popular new blog, the Bejosh Farm Journal.

Ed told me he has lived in the sometimes narrow confines of the farming community his whole life – he and Carol are dairy farmers – and he is especially happy to be exploring his art and writing on his blog. He loves farming, but the world is changing for him, and change is hard for most people. Very few can do it.

And Happy Birthday, Ed.