Happy Birthday Dad
March 21st, 2008Today is my father’s 87 birthday. As he likes to say, “I’ve been in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. I’ve seen a lot and got shot at a lot but they never hit me!” He and mom were married just a month shy of their 64th anniversary when she died last year.
Here’s a video of him doing his favorite toast which he says he learned in WWII (text follows).
Here’s to it
and from it
and to it again.
And if you get to it,
but don’t do it,
you’ll never get to it
to do it again.
Truer words were never spoken. I stopped by and had a drink with dad tonight and wished him a happy birthday. The folks at the home made a cake and a home-made card with drawings on it that everyone signed. He said, “You could go to a store and spend $100 on a card and it wouldn’t be as good as this one!” One of the residents got his harmonica and played for him as everyone sang. He was a very happy man.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Thought your readers may be interested in a mental health campaign I’m helping to start called everyminute.org that is fighting stigma in trying to organize a grassroots lobbying force to secure more research funding. We just launched our websiteat http://www.everyminute.org Please check it out if it sounds interesting to you. Thanks!
March 24th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
How fortunate for you to be able to celebrate with your Dad. I read your earlier posts and it appears you are at peace with your relationship with him. What a gift…for both of you….
I kept thinking….my his Dad is older than my Mom’s husband who will be 84 this year. It dawned on me that when my daughter is 40 is will be 80. Yikes! It is has been very hard for me to have had my children so late. Most of my friends are starting to retire and I have a 13 year old still at home and frankly, some days I resent that she is there. On the other hand, she keeps me young and I have had the opportunity to had more of an enriching relationship with my daughter than my mother ever had with me. I know now, that my Mom just did the best she could do under the circumstances. There were very little resources to improve one’s mental health when we were growing up. It is what, it is.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Yes Lisa, I do feel pretty good about my relationship with my dad. He’s almost always in a good mood and happy. He still misses mom but he usually follows “I sure miss your mom.” with “We had a good life together.” So I think he’s worked through his grief in a healthy way.
I was 27 when my daughter was born and 31 when my son came along. Next month he’ll turn 20. Time slips up on you like a ninja! Before you know it you look in the mirror only to discover the little black-robed assassins have turned your hair gray and added a few wrinkles.
Sounds like you have a good relationship with your daughter. Good for you both!