80 Years old

My dad turned Eighty years old on November 1, 2024.   

 

We celebrated with a big family dinner at the Red Sands Motel.   Raquel arranged to surprise my dad by having all the grandkids stand up by Grandpa Dick and then they all started singing his 'theme song' "Oh Lord it's hard to be humble by Mac Davis" here are the lyrics

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better loking each day.

To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.

I used to have a girlfriend
but she just couldn't compete
with all of these love starved women
who keep clamoring at my feet.
Well I prob'ly could find me another
but I guess they're all in awe of me.
Who cares, I never get lonesome
cause I treasure my own company.

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way,
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.

I guess you could say I'm a loner,
a cowboy outlaw tough and proud.
I could have lots of friends if I want to
but then I wouldn't stand out from the crowd.
Some folks say that I'm egotistical.
Hell, I don't even know what that means.
I guess it has something to do with the way that I
fill out my skin tight blue jeans.

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way,
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.
We're doing the best that we can

My mom asked everyone to write a heartfelt letter to my dad and she wanted to collect them and put them in a binder.   Jane was talking to her friend Mia about having to write a letter too but they took it a step further and had a few names drawn out of a hat of family who has to read there's.  She said she had to read her letter in front of the group to her grandpa.   I thought that was a fabulous idea and after I collected all the letters I had my dad draw a few of the letters at random so nobody could complain that there letter was or wasn't drawn.   Luck would have it after all the arranging my letter was picked.    I then took all the letters and copied them into a nice shutterfly book with corresponding pictures of each of the grandkids and kids with their dad/grandpa.  I gave it to him for Christmas and my mom comments that anyone who stops by looks and the book and loves it.  

We then took some big family portraits.  In my parents backyard in front of the old Barn.   

The best part of the day was simply being with each other.  The cousins are all best friends and love themselves some cousin time.