Happy Birthday Dad

Today was my fathers birthday. He was born in 1945 ahead of his twin brother and he grew up in a house on Mackey Street with his older sister and parents. Dad would be only 62 years young today.

We celebrated his birthday just like he would have like it; with a barbeque. He loved his B.B.Q's just like we all do, but not with the same zest as he did.

I could just picture him right now at the grill. His back is to me and there is a lot of white smoke pouring out of the black box and enveloping him. There had just been a fire-up and daddy had tossed some water on it to calm the flames. I can see him turn his head with his silly smile and sparkling blue eyes, open his mouth and say,"Eat your heart out!" referring to how much better his grilling was to say, Burger King if he were grilling up some burgers.

This evening we had over the immediate family along with dad's brother, sister and mother. When we were at the dinner table we toasted "Happy Birthday" to dad with our wine glasses. After eating Teriyaki Pork Chops, Johnsonville Italian sausage, BBQ chicken, steak and sweet corn on the cob prepared on the grill along with rice & salad, we got the balloons out.

We all wrote dad a letter or note and attached it to the ribbon on our personal balloon. These colourful devices were filled with helium so that they could float away. We all went outside, sang "Happy Birthday" and let go of the balloons. We watched as the balloons bearing our thoughts and feeling floated away and eventually disappeared in the distance.

"Happy Birthday Daddy"