The "A Pirate Looks At Forty" Story

Brynn on the right with husband Dave.

It was an ordinary day.  And our daughter, Brynn, just celebrated a momentous occasion.  OK, I know she isn't a pirate, but she'd be a really pretty one if you gave her an eye patch and a cutlass.  Few hours ago I opened my email and found a note to check my 14 messages on Face Book.  I opened my account a few years ago, but very seldom check it anymore.  After checking the messages I started scanning all the posts and saw all the really neat photos that had been posted about my daughter's big party.  And then I found that Carol and I had been invited to it and I wished I had read the messages earlier.  

Brynn getting a kiss from daughter Camille
during our vacation birthday celebration.

My family just got together at Ocean City, NJ for a week of vacation and during that time we celebrated her birthday with a cake and gifts.  Brynn was born on the 4th of July and at the age of 4 had her photo in the newspaper in front of a cake with candles and a headline that read, "4 on the 4th of July".  Neat to see her photos posted on the Internet as she celebrated a special birthday in her life.  Celebrations as you pass through the decades in your life are always special.  Her party in Maryland, where she lives with husband Dave and my granddaughters Courtney and Camille, consisted of big banners and a gigantic pig roast.  Seems Dave made plans to have the neighborhood celebrate her birthday on Independence Day and disguised it as a neighborhood pig roast.  

Photo from the newspaper
36 years ago.

A neighbor bought a full sized pig, kept it in ice in his bathtub overnight and placed it in a big hole in his back yard to cook it.  The photos posted on Face Book show Brynn having a great time with all her neighbors and friends on her very special day.  Brynn has always been a special person to Carol and me and deserves all the attention and accolades that I'm sure where given to her.  She is a great wife to Dave, a great mom to Courtney and Camille, one who never complains, one who always has a nice word for and about everyone, and the best daughter a dad could ever hope for.  Oh yah, she was also a great softball player, swimmer, photographer, student, teacher, ………  and the list goes on and on.  Mom and dad love you Brynner.  Happy Birthday for the 40th time!   It was another ordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   PS - check out a few more photos of Brynn from the past.  And my story title comes from Jimmy Buffett.

Brynn had a variety of pets when she was younger as well as now.

Her mom taught her how to be a good cook which she learned well.