Old Pop Mannion completes another trip around the sun

My dad, Pop Mannion, has never worried about age.  Or never let on that he's worried.  He's always said, whenever another birthday has rolled around, "What does the fact that the earth takes 365 days to revolve around the sun have to do with me?"

The earth's travels through space may not matter to him, but every April 27 they matter to Mom Mannion, their 6 kids and matching daughters and sons-in-law, and their 14 grandchildren.

It gives us another chance to cheer loudly and long for Pop!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Love, Lance, the blonde, the 11 year old, and the 9 year old!

For a sampling of the long and storied history Pop Mannion and I have shared see:

The day old Pop Mannion finally tied one on.

We're living in the 1950s here.

And:

I'm being followed by a moon shadow.

Comments

[Elsie]

I don't know if Pop Mannion reads your comments section, but just in case he does...Happy Birthday, Pop!

[The Heretik]

Nice and evocative. Not to say that I, like you and Pop Mannion, am of a certain age . . . but I worked this committee that would do little entertainments toward the end of the school day back in the day. I remember Lynn looking through the phone book. She sees Harry Chapin's phone number and she called him up on the phone. Asked him to play at our high school. He did play, real good, for free. Some years later he founded an organization called WHY, world hunger year. Later he died when he got rear ended on the Long Island Expressway right around Exit 39 where it goes over Jericho Turnpike. I remember the scorch mark from the fire on the road. Scorched into my nogging Harry Chapin came from a lot of money, but he was driving a damn Ford Pinto. Having thought about that in years. But then I am of a certain age. Must enjoy what brain cells remain. Thanks.

[Lance]

A certain age, Joe? A certain age? Me? You're saying I'm a certain age? OH! I see your mistake. You didn't know that I come from a hometown that has always been decades behind the times. Nobody in our town ever heard of Cat Stevens or Leonard Cohen until 1994.

In fact, my parents tell me that all the kids now are real excited by somebody new they've just discovered called Duke. No, King. No, wait. Prince! That's it, Prince. He has a big hit they're all dancing to. Little Red Chevy Nova?

[denisdekat]

As they say in Chile "Apio Verde!!!", which means green celery (sounds like happy birthday to spanish speakers)...

[Avedon]

You're right. Every January or the last four yeas I wish I could still cheer for the continued long life of my old man. God dammit I miss him.

[The Heretik]

Oy, Lance. Oy. It was a litte red cutlass.