The "Celebration" Story

It was an ordinary day. We were getting ready for a birthday party. Not just any, but a party to celebrate 87 years of life for my Mom. She was born in 1922 and has been celebrating birthdays ever since. I can remember a few of the big birthdays in my life, but not many. I really don't remember my 16th or my 21st. How about you? Long term memory is fading! I do remember my 50th that was held on my parents back porch on Janet Avenue. My wife did a great job of keeping it a secret. But, she did an even better job of keeping my 60th a secret. A day before my birthday, we were sitting, watching TV and she took a phone call. She hung up and told me that our son Tad was having problems with his plumbing and wanted to know if I could run up now and help him with it. Duh! I had no clue. Even when we got there and there were cars up and down his street. I walked through the door and bammmmm. SURPRISE! Really neat party with all my friends and relatives. Back to Mom, now. She knew we were celebrating with a party on our back deck. All the family was there and a few of her friends. She didn't know that we were about to set the deck on fire. She sat at our Tiki Bar and we arrived with the cake....and 87 candles. Her three great-great grandkids gathered on stools next to her as we sang Happy Birthday and then helped her blow them out. She was in heaven for some time that day. My Dad celebrated his 87 much the same way, only inside since his Birthday is in February. Now that flame set off the smoke detector and scarred the crap out of everyone. Dad is no longer with us, but Mom is getting ready to celebrate with another big cake and huge flame. We'll have the extinguisher ready. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.