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Here we are at my Dad's 87th birthday dinner in 2017. |
In two weeks, the Cohens of California, New York, and
Massachusetts, will converge in Florida to celebrate my Dad’s 90th
birthday. We are taking my Dad to his favorite Mexican restaurant and the party
will include presents, balloons, and an enormous chocolate cake with a LOT of
candles.
Although my Dad has slowed down physically and his
short-term memory is not what it used to be, his long-term memory is razor
sharp. He is active, engaged, and still interested in current events. If you
ask my Dad what he likes to do, he will tell you that he enjoys shopping (aka
bargain hunting) and weekly visits to the library. His favorite stores are
Walmart and Target. Dad is an avid reader and is partial to mysteries. He still
putters around the house and my Mom recently had to hide the step ladder after
she caught him climbing up to change a light bulb.
It is amazing to think of how the world has changed since my
Dad was born and all of the things that he has seen. My Dad was born during the
Depression. An Electrical Engineer in civilian life, he also served in the U.S.
Army during the Korean War and helped develop radar and nuclear submarines. He
started his career with a slide rule, moved on to a calculator, and then a
computer. My Dad has always embraced technology and we were the first family I
know to own an answering machine, a VCR, and a TRS-80 (one of the earliest home
computers). Even today my Dad owns several computer tablets and enjoys looking
up facts on Google.
My Dad is an only child and we have a small nuclear family.
So ten years ago when my Dad turned 80, I asked all of my friends (and their
friends) to send my Dad a birthday card. My co-worker Michelle posted his name
on her pen pal group and he received cards from Japan and Australia. Other
friends passed his information along and he ended up receiving over 100
birthday cards. My Mom said that my Dad would eagerly await the arrival of the
mail man every day. Ten years later, they still have all the birthday cards in
a special box.
Want to send my Dad a card to help celebrate his 90th
birthday? Let him know that you read about him on the PugMom Quilt's blog. He will get a big kick out of it. His birthday
is January 17th. Here is Dad’s info:
Alan Cohen
10604 Royal Caribbean Circle
Boynton Beach, FL 33437
Have you had a milestone birthday recently? How do you
celebrate a milestone birthday?
For more historical fun and facts:
Thanks for visiting!
Pugs and kisses,
Nancy