Happy Birthday Dad/Papa

Ok, so pretend that this post is actually dated September 17, Dad's birthday. I should have posted the birthday greeting earlier, but I (DIMly) imagined that it would be more efficient to post details of his birthday dinner at the time. Well, by the time we got home from dinner (which ran raucously late--mom and dad still have that party spirit!) and fed the menagerie, well, as you can see it is technically no longer Dad's birthday. But my theory is, if i haven't gone to bed yet, it's not tomorrow.

so. . . 

here is the story of Dad's birthday dinner

Kudos to Katie for organizing the local DIM chapter to meet on Wednesday night at 7 at La Fontana in Nyack. She efficiently texted each of us a few days in advance, gathered the RSVPs, made the reservation. Yes, it was all well under control. . . until the afternoon of the 17th (Dad's birthday and the date of the dinner) when she realized she had forgotten to invite Dad. And Mom. 

Fortunately, Mom and Dad had not made other plans,so they were available.

As often happens at DIM events, it started out with deceptive decorum. Appetizers were ordered. Quiet, interesting conversations were had. Dinner was delicious. We should have realized things were going to get "DIM" when Dad requested that Mom sit on his left and Nancy sit to his right. The result of this seating arrangement was that Dad was on Nancy's deaf side and Nancy and Mom were on Dad's deaf sides. There was a lot of "what?" going on at that end of the table. Mom finally gave up and just started talking to other people 

Two of the people mom talked to

During the gift giving portion of the evening, Katie performed a dramatic reading of the information card that came with her gift. (It was a beautiful wooden box with a Celtic cross on the top.) For a little card, it had a lot of information. Katie read every word to us--what kind of wood it is made of, who the artist is, who his children are, what color his eyes are. . . you get the picture. (just kidding ktd!)

 

Here is a pic of Katie performing her reading.

  Please notice that Katie is already doing the "over the glasses" reading--age is creeping up even on the younguns! 

Dinner was delicious, and the food was plentiful, so there was some doubt as to whether we could fit dessert in. Don't worry, we managed.

We sang happy birthday to dad. Here are Nancy and Susan singing and clapping.

Several people ordered the elegant fruit sorbet, which was served in the actual fruit. Shannon had lemon, Katie had mango, and Bridget had peach. These details may seem as interesting as a gift card reading, but they are relevant. Because suddenly, Bridget (who has a bit of a sweet tooth) realized that a mango is bigger than a peach. (And remember, Bridget had a peach and Katie had a mango. . . ) 

Here is a pic of Katie graciously sharing her mango sorbet. (It was that, or lose a hand in the ensuing struggle. . . )

Katie and Bridget sharing mango sorbet

during dessert, the conversation turned to the topic of the new family blog. Nancy related how cleverly she and susan had calculated all the years of younguns'  birth based on the  year katie was born--1982. Katie  points out that she was born in 1984.  Maybe we better change the subject. . . 

We then we began discussing the difference between a "gathering" and a "reunion." So far, we have set 2 parameters that everyone at the table agreed to. A reunion must have at least one member of each family. And a reunion has a journal, whereas a gathering just has notes. (For example, I took notes during this event on the back of one of dad's card envelopes. See, it's a gathering. No book.) The discussion went on almost as long as Katie's reading. .  .Dad determined that we needed a new category  for things like when all the cousins get together--in case you are wondering, that woudl be a cousins' sub-reunion. (Can you believe we spent about an hour talking about this. . . ?) Dad finally tired of the subject, and asked, "Wasn't there a horror movie called "The Gathering?" At which point Mom suggested we table the topic for another time because we have a big day tomorrow!We did sing happy birthday, and Dad said he hoped we would all have lives as long and happy as his. . . 

And so on that note, the DIMs took their leave (much to the relief of the restaurant staff). 

So Happy Birthday Dad, Papa, Tom. You get better every year!

(editor's note: The pix are not cooperating--it's late--you'll just have to live with the anticipation.)