HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JONI EVANS! I know you never wanted children, but it’s funny – you now have a lot of us who depend on you utterly to save us from ourselves.

You were the greatest editor/publisher – and then the best literary agent anyone ever had. You dreamed up wowOwow.com and it’s your baby and we all remain your babies in a manner of speaking.

Though you sometimes fret and rage, talking of “getting even” or taking revenge, I know you are just a big softie at heart.

I love you, Joni. Happy Birthday and many more.

Lizzie, your eldest child

Joni,
 
I used to think to myself, "Who is better than Joni Evans?" And the answer always came up the same: "Nobody." And now when I ask myself the same question the answer is still the same — "Nobody" — and I think to myself, "How lucky am I to know this great woman?!" So, my dear, Happy Birthday.
 
Love,
 
Whoopi

Listen Hotstuff —
It’s your birthday so STAY IN BED. Read the papers. Have breakfast in bed. Do NOTHING so we don’t all feel so goddamned guilty!! Happy Birthday, Honey, and love to you.
Candy

You are the soul, the voice, the brains and the taste behind WOW.  You bring all that to the site.  Behind the scenes, you bring kindness and fun.  I am blessed we’ve become friends.  Lesley

She says she has "fear of children" but she has taken such good care of every single one of us associated with wowowow —- babied us, nutured us —- that I no longer believe her. I think she has fear of nothing. Compassion for all. The best haircut of anyone ever. And it is this simple: no Joni, no WOW. Happy Birthday, dear Joni. And thank you.

I  had the great good fortune to inherit Joni— not, I suppose, the usual way of acquiring a friend.  Although we were both friends of Carol Rinzler’s, our paths hardly crossed until Carol’s tragically untimely death. On such an occasion, everyone naturally stands around, wringing hands and murmuring uselessly "What can I do to help?" But I beheld Joni springing into action, with that wealth of compassion, efficiency, imagination, generosity and style with which she enriches everything she does and everyone who knows her. While she was making all the beautiful and sensitive arrangements that Carol would have wanted, Joni kindly swept me into her dazzling orbit. We declared ourselves The Mommy Committee to Carol’s children, who report to us to this day. And I never cease to be grateful to Carol for the priceless legacy of Joni’s friendship.

Lovely Joni, I won’t use the B word but I do wish you a riotous hilarious day so full of love you explode into a mass of shimmering sparks and when you are back in one piece you know everything there is to know. The perfect day. Hugs for every spark. Mary

Happiest birthday ever, dear Joni. You deserve a huge celebration for having brought wowowow so far, so fast. I’m grateful to you for asking me to be part of this spectacular endeavor. Much love, Joan Cooney