Thimbleanna

80

57 Comments / Family / August 7, 2011

Well, hello there. Have you all been enjoying my little break? It’s been really busy here — lots of work on the house (it’s finally starting to come together) and family time.  We’ve had a wonderful weekend — both of the boys were home for BigDaddy’s BIG birthday.

80.

WOW.  I love the birthday posts I see here and there that list x number of fun things for an x birthday. I hope you’ll indulge me a little 80 post about my wonderful Dad.

80th Birthday

  1. BigDaddy was born in a house, not in a hospital.
  2. He’s the youngest of two boys.
  3. Brownie was his first dog.
  4. Brownie used to wait on a bridge for BigDaddy to come home from school.
  5. Tippy was his next dog.
  6. BigDaddy cries at the drop of a hat.
  7. He chose the Three Layer Chocolate Cake for his 80th birthday cake.
  8. He accidentally stuck a knife in his eye when he was 4 years old.
  9. He can still see.
  10. His father was a government trapper.
  11. His mother was an avon lady.
  12. They always had a coyote or two in a kennel in the backyard.
  13. And a few pigs.
  14. He loved to go on the mountain trips with his dad.
  15. He shot a bear when he was 12.
  16. He’s always felt badly about that.
  17. He has a great sense of humor.
  18. He was the class clown growing up.
  19. When he was 9 or 10 the boys and girls in his group of friends used to get buck naked in a box car and throw plums at each other. 
  20. He pulled lots of pranks in high school.
  21. Little things like turning over outhouses and hanging high school teachers out of second story windows upside down.
  22. Things that would get you put in jail these days.
  23. He says people back then didn’t take themselves so seriously and could take a good joke.
  24. He can fix anything.
  25. And rebuild a car engine.
  26. He misses the mountains.
  27. He’s a really hard worker.
  28. He’s had two quadruple by-passes.
  29. And didn’t complain a bit.
  30. Except about “that nurse” who taped the IV to his arm and then ripped out his arm hairs when it was time to go home — apparently that hurts way more than having your chest cracked open.
  31. So, he says he’s never going through that again.
  32. When he was 4 or 5 he went off to play and forgot to tell his mother who was scared to death when she couldn’t find him.
  33. He got “the switch” for that when he came home.
  34. That was rare.
  35. He learned his gentle ways from his parents.
  36. He loves to do woodworking.
  37. He still has all of his thumbs and fingers.
  38. Although, one thumb keeps getting in the way of the saw.
  39. He’s made each one of his grandchildren a beautiful keepsake chest.
  40. If you’re a street vendor in Strassbourg selling belts, he’ll buy a bunch of them from you.
  41. Even if they’re WAY too big.
  42. And then he’ll give them to his children and grandchildren for Christmas presents.
  43. BigDaddy tells a mean corny joke.
  44. Most people don’t get them.
  45. He used to be a runner.
  46. That’s how he knew he needed heart surgery.
  47. Before low-cholesterol drugs, when they told him he must adhere to a low-cholesterol diet, he was very strict.
  48. Even when it meant he couldn’t eat anything fun.
  49. Everyone admired him for his determination.
  50. He said he just wanted to live to see his grandchildren grow up.
  51. He’ll give you the shirt off of his back.
  52. He loved hiking in the Alps.
  53. And cried over their beauty.
  54. He loved visiting Great Britian too.
  55. Especially Wales, where his ancestors are from.
  56. He cried at The Big Pit.
  57. We tease him that he’s cried all over the world.
  58. When we were little girls and got sick, BigDaddy was the one who took care of us.
  59. And he took a 4-month leave of absence from his job to take care of his dying father-in-law.
  60. He’s a wonderful grandpa.
  61. He always made me feel special when I was growing up. 
  62. Especially through those awful teenage years.
  63. He loves to make people laugh.
  64. He loves Sealyham Terriers.
  65. He knew MeMum when they were growing up but they didn’t become an “item” until after high school.
  66. They eloped to Lake Tahoe.
  67. He’s very proud to be a Korean War veteran.
  68. He has a degree in Industrial Engineering.
  69. But had a career as a marketer in the aerospace industry.
  70. We moved a lot and he always went ahead to pick out the new house.
  71. He always did a great job.
  72. And made our moves fun.
  73. We each got a special one-on-one trip across the country in the pink jeep.
  74. He taught us how to swim.
  75. And suffered with us through algebra.
  76. He loves a beautiful woodworking tool.
  77. He loves his girls.
  78. And his grandchildren.
  79. And they’re all crazy about him.
  80. He’s the father everyone wishes they had.

Happy, Happy Birthday BigDaddy!  We all love you dearly!!! 

XOXO,
Anna

57 thoughts on “80”

  6. sue

    Happy 80th to your dad. He sounds like a great man who loves his family dearly and richly. Great to see you back after your little bloggy break.

  9. periwinkle

    Oh what a gorgeous post Anna, he sounds like a Big daddy in a million and yes I did well up reading all those things . I was born in a house too . Happy Birthday Big Daddy xx

  13. Joni

    Happy 80th Birthday Big Daddy!!! Anna, what a lovely tribute to your special dad. Give him a hug for me. xoxoxo

  20. Melissa

    Reading this brought tears to my eyes. Wish my Dad was still with me to say such wonderful things about. Happy Birthday to your Dad.

  24. Valerie

    Sounds like you are a lucky woman to have had him for your Dad. Hope he had a lovely birthday and will be around for many more!

  27. ina

    Okay, I’m crying too. How lucky you are to be blessed with this man as your father. Give him a great big kiss from me. ;0

  29. trash

    Happy Birthday Big Daddy. Princess Curly Wurly has also been to The Big Pit and she really enjoyed it too.

  30. Berh

    #8 has me cringing — I have definite eye issues, but otherwise BigDaddy has led a wonderful life!

  31. Karen

    Oh Anna – that was just such an awesome post – brought tears to my eyes. I think bigdaddy sounds like a wonderful husband,father,grandpa :). Your blessed

    Hugs – Karen

  33. Jewels

    OMG! I am all weepy now. I love BigDaddy too! Kisses and hugs, hope he has 80 more wonderful Birthday’s. Thanks for sharing.

  35. dianne

    i had a daddy like your BigDaddy … but he has been gone for a long, long time … and i miss him … so hug your dad for all of us who are no longer able to hug our own

  36. Cindy

    What a wonderful birthday tribute for your dad! Bet it was better than any other gift you could have given him. :)

    Sounds like he has had a wonderful life and has been able to enjoy those grandchildren! Thank him for serving his country. My dad is 80 and also a proud Korean War Vet.

    Happy Birthday to you Big Daddy and wish you many more!

  38. Cindy Rutledge

    Happy Birthday BigDaddy! Glad you’re back to blogging and house remodel is progressing.

  39. linda noblog

    poignant…special…very touching…you are so fortunate to have such a kind, dear, thoughtful father. much happiness on his big b.day!
    WOW!

  40. Louise

    What a lovely Dad you have!! Happy Birthday to him :) And my Dad just turned 80 too and his family were Welsh and he tells some seriously corny jokes! Ha! xx

  42. Robin Plummer

    Happy Belated Birthday to BIG DADDY!! It’s easy to be a father but it takes someone special to be a “DADDY”.

  44. linda townsend

    What a wonderful man! And you are a loving and appreciative daughter. I really enjoyed reading your tribute.

  47. Alison

    Hope he had a lovely day – my Nana had her 99th birthday last week and it was my niece’s 14th this week , she and her Mum and brother are with us for few days and I am seeing Nana in Spain next week, July is as busy month for birthdays in our house.
    Hope the house is coming along well.
    Alison

  52. elizabeth

    Oh, Anna,

    I cried while reading about your sweet daddy’s 80th birthday. I lost my daddy a year ago in July just a few weeks before his 80th birthday. He so wanted to reach 80. I miss him so much. This year has been hard. Thanks for sharing about your daddy.

    elizabeth

  57. Jan

    Happy 80th to your gorgeous dad! What a beautiful heartfelt post. You are a lucky girl to have such a wonderful dad….but then he’s a lucky guy to have such a lovely daughter!!!!

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