Happy Birthday to The Man

To the one who Ronald feels the most competition with...

A little birdee and I were talking earlier this week, when said birdee let it be known that it was going to be my Dad's Over the Hill Big "5-0" Birthday. I was shocked,and must say a little disappointed that I had not foreseen to this fact sooner- so that I could have done something more than what I was planning. Then, as I was standing in the card aisle, trying to once again find that perfect card, I counted back from the year my dad was born to 2009...and realized,

'Yes. I still have one more year.'

So instead of the usual black Over the Hill cracks, we will focus on the last 365 days before the official Over the Hill celebration will begin.

So. What is there to say about one of the people that have had the enormous amounts of influence that my Dad has had in my life.

1. Thanks for not picking out a fru-fru girlie name for me- one that ends with an 'i' or a 'y' - or had any connections to old girlfriends - or so out of the ordinary that no one would ever know how to pronounce it correctly the first time...enough of that with the last name :)
2. For telling me endless stories about your adventures with Frisky. Especially the experience of getting him on Christmas morning.
3. Encouraging me to learn about cars. At least enough to be able to look at the billowing black clouds of smoke pouring out the exhaust pipe, and realizing that "There just might be something wrong."
4. Coming out to help me move from Houston to Provo...driving that huge moving van, sneaking Ronald into the motels, and staying long enough to enjoy our Harry Potter tradition.
5. I have you to thank for kicking off my Harry Potter obsession. Who else would have made sure that that copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone made it onto the corner of my pillow so that it was the first thing I saw when I crawled into bed that summer? And after I had buried that book under clothes and magazines and other books next to my bed, making sure to slip Harry Potter back up on my pillow the next morning after I had left for work- so that of course it was there for me when I finally decided to crack that book open and begin reading.
6. Getting caught up in an America's Next Top Model marathon, and being the only one to stay up late enough to see who was the ultimate winner :)
7. Making sure that my car is running well, that the weather is treating me decent, and that work is well, still paying me a salary.
8. Having a good sense of humor.
9. Letting me (almost) always win at Rummy. You do let me win right?
10. Making sure that I keep a plan in mind. What do I want to do with my life...
11. Having hopes and goals for yourself...and going for them.
12. Teaching me that it is important to stay out of debt.
13. Letting the family have family pets. Especially after seeing you followed around by the pet dog...oh, no that's Weebo!
14. Being willing to catch a midnight movie opening.
15. Still liking to go out driving donuts in your beater car.
16. Your beater car. Especially the "defroster" fan.
17. Being dependable. You say you will do something, be somewhere, you follow through.
18. For not being as scary as some people say you're intimidating appearance intimates.
19. Reading to me before I could read for myself, and sometimes even after that.
20. Listening to me read my copy of Harry Potter out loud while waiting for yours to come in the mail. I told you it was quicker to wait in the midnight lines, than to have it mailed to the house!
21. Not over complimenting. "Not too shabby!"
22. Helping me through college.
23. Putting up with Ronald accidents.
24. Coming to visit, even though you know you are subjecting yourself to sofas, blow up mattresses, or even the floor. Then again your ability to sleep anywhere, anytime is impressive.
25. Waking up before the crack of dawn to celebrate Christmas mornings.
26. Telling good stories.
27. Laughing out loud, often.
28. Seeing the humor in a situation, or letting it roll off your back when there is nothing that can be done about it.
29. Cooking tasty breakfasts.
30. Getting excited for Harry Potter book releases, and wanting to come with me to each new movie release...and of course putting up with my incessant need to hash and rehash out the plot and characters.
31. Wanting to spend time with our family.
32. Absolutely always providing our family with food, clothing, and shelter.
33. Making improvements to our house- sunroofs, decks, porches, entire bedrooms.
34. Letting me know that I could make someone a great carpet layer. It's on my relationship resume with you as a reference.
35. Letting me make my own decisions, but always being there to give thoughtful advice.
36. Loving House M.D. Who would have thought?
37. Making sure and/or participating in family vacations...road trips.
38. Seeing to all of my computer needs. I have yet to face a computer melt down. *knock knock knock*
39. Enjoying being around our family as we have grown up.
40. Being willing to go on the occasional Mall Walk...a.k.a. window shopping.
41. Thinking its funny to disappear in a crowded mall, and then appear magically as if we didn't miss you.
42. Rototiller-ing a garden every spring.
43. Coming to graduations- seminary, high school, college.
44. Your highly developed fashion sense.
45. Going to Las Vegas and watching the high rollers, getting so sunburned sitting by the hotel pool that you were red for the entire time you were there, getting up at 3am when I finally arrived and going to get something to eat, and trolling for discarded jumbo casino dice to play Roll the Bones.
46. Taking family, church, and work responsibilities seriously.
47. Loving Me and Eneras.
48. Loving Mom.

- and the happy 49th for luck -

49. Being who you are.