We had a great weekend.
This past weekend we celebrated my dad’s 80th birthday. It was a surprise party. Our original plan was to have a get together at my brother’s house, but the weather was calling for rain Saturday afternoon, so I decided instead we’d all just meet at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Fort Wayne, Tequila’s, and just have it there. That way nobody has to set up or clean up and we could all just enjoy each others company.
My wife and I drove my parents, while the kids in Indianapolis came up and met us at the restaurant. My brother, sister-in-law, niece and her husband were there as well, and when we got there everyone were waiting. My dad was genuinely surprised. One of my best friends and his wife came as well, as they know my parents really well and celebrated with us.
Food was great, as was the conversations and laughter. Afterwards we went back to our house and had some birthday cake my wife made. Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and chocolate ganache. Decadent, let me tell ya. For my dad’s birthday gift, we’re taking my mom and dad to go see Jim Gaffigan in South Bend of September 11th. Weird day to laugh, but oh well.
Sunday morning my best friend came over and we walked 6 1/2 miles. After he left I went and got groceries, got gas for the mower, and picked up a couple records from Karma Records. Mowed the front and back yard, then grilled chicken and veggies for dinner.
It’s nice getting together with the whole family. We don’t do that very often, so when we do it feels pretty special. I’m reminded that we make a pretty good crew of folks. I wish we could do that more often, but with so many of our family living 2 to 3 hours away it makes it difficult other than during holidays. So a day like Saturday holds a pretty special place in the heart and mind.
I’m still kind of in shock that my dad is 80 years old. His dad only made it to 76. Why is it that we compare death days of grandparents to our parents. My dad didn’t have scarlet fever like my grandpa, which caused damage to his heart when he was a kid. Nor did my dad smoke most of his life. He did smoke on a occasion, and probably more so when he was younger, but it never was a habit. He did fall off the roof, like my grandpa did. But I don’t think my grandpa had a bush break the fall like my dad did. My grandpa didn’t jog for years either. There wasn’t much exercise other than projects around the house. My dad was pretty active his whole life(and still is.)
My point is correlating how and when your grandparents die to your own parents really doesn’t make sense. All of my grandparents had open heart surgery, while my parents have only been on BP and cholesterol meds. No heart issues…at least not enough to warrant surgery or even a stent or two.
I hope we can celebrate my 80th like we did my dad. I feel like I’ve started over in terms of my health and well being, and that I’ve got another good 30 years barring freak accidents like a meteor crushing me on the way to work, or a zombie apocalypse.
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