My Dad's 95th Birthday
A big surprise and a little muffin
My Dad turned 95 this week, and my sister and I managed to pull off a big surprise party for him. What a joy! He was completely surprised and absolutely delighted to be surrounded by four generations of family. You can see it in the video. Dad is not one to make a big thing of his birthday, especially at his age. He managed to enforce his strict “no gifts” policy with remarkable success. What does a 95-year-old need except health and the love of family and friends - which he has in abundance.
Dad has exceptionally good health due to luck and a lot of self-discipline. He follows a strict routine that includes the gym, walking with friends, minding his diet, avoiding alcohol, and getting plenty of sleep. Since I was old enough to pay attention, Dad was focused and self-aware, and he developed a rigorous routine as sole care-giver during Mom’s long struggle against Alzheimer’s three decades ago. Since Mom’s passing in 2005, Dad cultivated self-reliance and self-discipline and pulled himself through challenges large and small. His routine could be just a little bit harsh at times - it probably wasn’t necessary to enforce early morning breakfast deadlines on teenage grandsons who slept in on vacation. But it helped him keep going, cultivating a rich life despite his devastating personal loss, and growing ever kinder and more considerate over time. It also kept him healthy in mind and body. Dad has a certain skepticism about doctors and the medical system but a profound appreciation of a balanced diet, frequent exercise, reading, puzzles and sudoku, shots and pills as needed, antique outboards and, most of all, feeling fit and vigorous.
Dad is loved so deeply because he loves so generously. We don’t agree about politics, but that is easy to keep compartmentalized and out of the way, especially when the man is so thoughtful, so funny, and so kind. As demonstrated by this raisin English muffin:
Natalie and I visit Dad at least once a month and spend the night. I treasure these visits, especially when we take the long way from Bellingham to Dad’s house in Gig Harbor and back via the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry and the Hood Canal floating bridge. Dad makes sure he has a meal plan for us and that all is set for a nice and comfortable visit.
This raisin English muffin is a part of the plan. There was a time when Dad ate raisin English muffins, and he noticed that I also enjoyed having one for breakfast with a heavy dollop of Adam’s peanut butter. Chunky, not creamy. Dad still loves Adam’s peanut butter, but he gave up raisin English muffins years ago. Except for the ones he gets for me. Every time Natalie and I show up, I am sure to find a single raisin English muffin in Dad’s refrigerator, where he moved it from the freezer just ahead of our arrival. If we are spending two nights, it will be two muffins. The one pictured above is the latest of many dozens. I enjoyed it the day after Dad’s surprise birthday party because of how great it tasted with a hefty dollop of Adam’s peanut butter. But also because what it said about my Dad.
How did I get to be so lucky?