Sunday, January 29, 2006

I was awakened this morning by the soft caress of my wife Marilyn, she gently said, (in her best morning voice and Marge Simpson imitation) "You're how old?" Then she blurted out an uncontrolled giggle. This began my birthday.
Turns out it's harder to strangle people than they make it look on TV. She escaped to live another day. She really has an irritating, evil, giggle.
We went to celebrate with our kids in Lincoln last night. A great night. I got to play with Madilyn Rose. (grandaughter) She likes me. A lot of times, kids like adults who are always excited to pick them up and love them, and then willing to set them back down when they've decided it's time to get down again. Sometimes this only takes a couple of seconds. Kids who are raised under this theory of 'watchful' freedom, seem to continue coming back to be 'picked up and held for a while', even into their twenties and thirties. That's as far as my experience goes.
My beautiful daughter in-law, baked me a great cake with only one candle in the middle. She said the fire marshall in Lincoln won't allow the sale of THAT many birthday candles to one person. Yeah, me and Rodney Dangerfield!
We dined on blackened salmon and grilled steaks. They are great cooks and already have mastered the art of entertaining large groups.
Our son Tom, and his Bride to be, were there as well as my daughter and family. Their wedding is in September.
In the afternoon we got to go with our son Tom and his soon to be wife, and help pick out the reception hall. It's a neat hall. The brides parents were there, also. Her Dad is a funny guy. He and I wondered aloud why anyone would cover these nice big, tan, plastic, round tables with table cloths. They looked good the way they were, we thought, because they matched the chairs. The bride and the two mothers then looked at different 'set up' pictures with the manager of the building, and sent Roger and I to check to see if the parking lot and restrooms seemed big enough. These women know talent when they see it. But all of the decisions were already made and the contract signed by the time Roger and I came back to report our findings. How did they know everything would check out?
Note, two days ago, we set the record for highest, minimum temp, for that date. Forty two was the low for the day. January 27th, unbelievable. However, the bad news is that the old record was set in 1934. A very bad drought year. This is too long but I wanted to get all of this said while I was still young enough to type.

21 comments:

poopie said...

Happy Birthday Cliff!!!!!!!! I'll light a candle for you ;)

Ralph said...

Happy Birthday Cliff. You should have told us earlier we would have come out. Enjoy the day.
Ralph

JUST A MOM said...

DAMN SEH BEAT ME AGAIN!!!!!! YEAH WHAT VAL SAID AND THEN,,,, oh crap seh did the monkey one too,,, man ok HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLIFF!!!!!!

Rhodent said...

Happy Birthday... it is a good age "they" say. Yes, I think I like your wife... the perfect greeting for a birthday day! Have a great one!

Rachel said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOD BLESS YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU......and many more....

Have a good one Cliff. Sounds like you did have a great time last night with your family, so that's wonderful!

Miki said...

Happy Birthday Cliff, another year, another bunch of posts! Keep up the writing, I look foward to your posts, they are always insightful and witty! Glad that you had a great time with the kids and grandkids, they are enriched for having you in their lives!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Cliff, We almost called yesterday to see about meeting for supper and then I see you had plans. Well we'll try again. Talk about calling the kettle black, if you think the newest father-in-law to be is a funny guy.... Is there a date set for the wedding? What about the trail rides? I've got to keep my calendar in order. Deb T

EV said...

Happy Birthday, partner! Sounds like you have a ball. :)

Anonymous said...

Cliff,
No matter how old you feel, ain't it great to be the "baby" of the family? Happy Birthday, Youngster!

Anonymous said...

If I would have realized it was your birthday, I would have sent a card! Hope you have a wonderful year!

Dan said...

I already told Cliff this, but for everyone else, he is as old as Me, my wife, and my child combined, exactly.

Jamie Dawn said...

Happy Birthday!!!!
There's nothing better then being surrounded by a loving family. You've been a wonderful dad, and you are now enjoying the benefits of all the love you've given over the years.
I wish you many more years!!!

Jim said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLIFF
FROM IOWA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY

LOIS IS TRYING TO FIGURE HOW OLD YOU ARE, MAYBE 12 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HER??

THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A BIG ROUND NUMBER!!!!!!!!!

SHE REMEMBERS WHEN YOU STAYED WITH MOM (AND HER) WHEN YOU FLOODED THAT YEAR.

SHE JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD OR SHE WOULD KNOW EXACTLY HOW OLD YOU ARE. SHE DOES KNOW IT WAS AT EASTER TIME.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

p.s. I'm not writing today from Iowa, I'm resting in Iowa.

Peter said...

Happy Birthday Cliff; there is some conjecture over your age, my Dad used to tell me I was catching up to him fast, he said he was 25 times my age when I was born, but he was less than twice my age the last time we discussed it.

Gel said...

Happiest Belated Birthday Wishes to you, Cliffers!
~~~~~~~O ~~~~~~O ~~~~~~~O ~~~~~~~O
~~~~~~~~O (These are supposed to be balloons and they don't pop)
Since someone beat me to the "monkey" song and you adore your children and grandchidren so much, I must also wish you a belated "Happy BURPday" since I'm sure the eats were yummy and that's from a silly childhood time.
P.S. Love "these women know talent when they see it."
Oh, what is it with the fascination about your age? If I know it, then others not related to you must. It must be because you and Marilyn look so young in your photos! I'm not telling nor hinting. Dan is funny...

Cliff said...

I was born in 1950. That fact has always made it easy to figure my current age. That's important because it seems to keep changing.

Deabora said...

Happy Birthday.
I enjoy your blog, your a hoot.

Idgie @ the "Dew" said...

Happy Happy Birthday Cliff! I'll light a fried 'mater on fire over here and blow it out in your honor!

:)

eyes_only4him said...

aww.
Happy Birtdhay cliff..

so what your 30 now?

Paul Nichols said...

Happy Birthday, kid.

Anonymous said...

Good Lord, you are just a child! I was already a freshman in High School the year you were born. May you have many wonderful years ahead of you and may you continue to write such wonderful posts for all of us to read.