A Tower of Cupcakes Celebrating 80 Years

We celebrated my Dad’s 80th birthday this weekend with family, friends and a tower of cupcakes. Everyone pitched in to choreograph the surprise, and of course, I was on cake duty. Cupcakes seem the appropriate chose for someone who is 80 years young, and we kind of liked the Halloween palette since Dad first arrived in this world on October 31, 1928.

And, what a different world it must have been then. Mickey Mouse first appeared in the animated film short, “Steamboat Willie,” and one of my favorite books, “The House at Pooh Corner,” was published in England. Calvin Coolidge was the United States President and Amelia Earhart was the first woman to pilot an aircraft across the Atlantic. My, have times changed.

Here’s a toast I wrote in honor of Dad for his 70th birthday celebration. It seems just as appropriate today:

Dad,

We are here today to honor your special qualities that have had such an influence on all our lives:

Your thoughtful authority,

Your patience,

Your willingness to help us in any situation,

Your love of nature, the National Parks and “the great outdoors,”

Your sense of responsibility and your work ethic that brought so many good things to our family,

Your ability to make the best Tom Collins and grilled flank steak on the planet,

Your skill with a camera (even though you’ve got hundreds of slides that still need to be catalogued),

Your quiet, abiding faith,

And the unconditional love you’ve given us all.

Happy 80th Birthday, Dad!

©2008 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved