Today would have been my father's 96th birthday. I've been thinking about him and our family and can't recall ever celebrating his birthday. That seems odd. I must have simply forgotten because I can't imagine my mother not wishing him a happy birthday.
Mom was widowed young so would have only had 19 birthdays with him, those last 5 being in the hospital. I wonder about that last birthday. Did we visit Dad on his birthday? Did we sing to him even though by that time dementia had turned us into strangers? And by us, I mean Mom and I. My brother never visited our father in the hospital.
Well I'm sure she wished him a happy birthday. I think it's in the fine print of the vows and Mom was faithful to her wedding vows. Maybe sometime today she sang to him the birthday song she began singing when I was an adult. "A happy birthday to you, a happy birthday to you. Every day of the year may you find Jesus near. A happy birthday to you, a happy birthday to you and the best you have ever had." Jesus is very near to both of them now.
Happy birthday Daddy. See you soon. (And by soon I am referring to the word used in the Bible translated as soon but means suddenly and unexpectedly.)
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