Happy Birthday!

Today was my Dad's 83rd birthday.  Other than his occasional grumpiness, you wouldn't know it.

Dad and I at the Richmond Marathon in November 2010.

Dad on vacation in 2005.

Dad and Mom on vacation in 2008.  

I wanted to show you a picture of us at my wedding, but that was before digital.  Ugh.  Can you believe that?

Anyway, we had my parents over for dinner tonight.  Tom made his so yummy shrimp and grits.  Oh, so, so good!   That is definitely a special occasion meal.  And what a better excuse to eat them than my Dad's 83rd birthday celebration?

I was trying to think of a way to describe my Dad.  And I think a recent memory does a good job of illustrating who he is.  About a month ago, when Tom told me about possibly bidding on the local Ronald McDonald House kitchen renovation, I went to their website and looked around.  I saw that they collect pop tops.  At some point my Mom was over and either I told her, or she saw our collection.  She told my Dad and he went into their garage to their aluminum can collection bin and took all the tops off the cans to give to me.  I think it was several bags of crushed cans.  It was a lot.  And I'm sure it took him a long time.  And talk about tedious work!  But, he didn't mind.  He knew I wanted them, so he got them for me.  That's just the way he is.

Happy Birthday, Dad!  Thank you for all you do!  I love you!
~Christy