WDM, Ia - My Father-in-Law's 89th Birthday

Really big day today - really big. It is my father-in-law’s 89th birthday. Well, actually, his birthday is on the 22nd but this is the day we could all get together to celebrate. He and Darlene, his wife, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, had 3 kids: Gary, Cathy and Dawn. There are now 13 in the family and most of us live in Iowa but one lives in Austin,Texas. Even she flew in for the celebration and then flew out Monday morning so she could get to work Monday noon. Lug’s ‘friend’ Barb was also there.

Above are some pictures of the Birthday Boy. We’re so happy to have even this many pictures of him as a youth since he grew up during the Depression and cameras and pictures were rare. He wrestled for Fort Dodge High School - I can’t even imagine the weight class he was in but lighter than featherweight comes to mind. The right hand picture in the second row is Gary, Cathy and their parents in their Sunday best. Dawn’s wedding is on the left in the bottom row. But in the bottom row is Lug’s favorite picture, one of him and Darlene, shortly before she died. She’s looking pretty thin at this point but she never lost her perkiness and I think this comes through in this picture.

Cathy, the organizer, had planned it all. She had sent out actual written invitations so we could all remember the date and time, she had called Hy-Vee to cater but then each family also brought something, she had decorations for the tables, extra silverware and dinnerware, and - she had even brought plastic containers for the left-over food. Imagine that! What a planner.

The party was scheduled for 11:30 and, wouldn’t you know, we all arrived at once. Lots of hugs, ooh’s and aah’s and lots of conversation since we hadn’t seen each other as a full group for about 2 years. (Two people keep leaving in the winter to head south.) Lug, my father-in law (he used to carry slugs in his pocket as a youngster in the East End of Fort Dodge and has been named ‘Lug’ ever since) had set up card tables in his basement and we put the food on a long counter he had down there. Hy-Vee brought fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and baked beans along with rolls and butter. Dawn had brought her ‘signature’ Oreo salad (I call this a dessert) Cathy brought a huge bowl of fresh fruit and I brought my ‘signature’ deviled eggs. What a feast. We also had champagne cake and ice cream.

I sat with Dawn and her son Adam since I don’t have many chances to see them but had a chance to talk with everyone.

Above is the family picture with Tom (who married Cathy), Gary, I, Andy (Cathy and Tom’s son), Bonnie (his wife) and Tom (who married Dawn) (and, yes there are 2 Tom’s.) In the front row are Jasmine and Maddy (Andy’s and Bonnie’s daughters), Cathy, Dawn, Samantha (Dawn and Tom’s daughter, Lug, April (Cathy’s and Tom’s daughter from Austin) and Adam (Dawn’s and Tom’s son who recently finished his Eagle ceremony). Pretty neat family.

Then the Birthday Boy got to blow our his candles which, ended up being only 2, an 8 and a 9. Whew! Above is a picture of Lug and his cake.

Above are April, Samantha and Adam with his father, Tom. Below are Jasmine, Bonnie and Andy and Maddy. I’ve got all the kids here but not the ‘older’ generation.

Of course it was picture time the whole time but we also wanted a formal picture of the whole family. We all strolled outside into the sauna-like heat, found a shady spot in front of the trumpet vine on the backyard fence and got several pictures.

Then we skittled in to get out of the oppressive heat. Finally it was time to go and we all departed our different ways. But what a nice day it was, what a joy it was to see each other and to celebrate Lug’s 89 years of life. He’s in such good health that I expect to celebrate many more of his birthdays.