Baby Elias, my father as an infant (with a distant relative) circa
Fall 1924, photo © 2008 by ybonesy. All rights reserved.
5th of november
my father turns 85
best birthday ever
Words and words have been spilled about this moment. I have little to add.
But I do want to acknowledge today: November 5, 2008. As my mother said, “This is one of the happiest days of my life.”
For this step forward and for another year with my father: Thank you, grace.
Beautiful picture.
My father’s birthday was yesterday. He too got the present he was most hoping for.
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Thanks, teaspoon. Happy birthday to your dad, and happy day to you. (smile)
BTW, I just have to say, the link in the post is really fabulous, and so for those who don’t always click on links, make sure you click on that one. It is to the Newseum, which shows newspaper front pages from around the US and the world for any given day. Really awesome.
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I just spoke to papa and he is grateful that he has been able to see such a significant change in his lifetime. Such a cool thought.
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bex: at 9p last night, or about two seconds after, ABC and all the other stations called the election. I screamed, which caused my girls to come running out to see what happened. Then I immediately wanted to talk to my own parents. Dad answered the phone, something like, “We won.” He was quiet and calm but I could hear the tears of joy at the surface.
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Happy Birthday to your Dad! What a little cutie he was! I’m so glad he got the present he wanted. It was a gift to all of us. We can all celebrate the day with him! D
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Ohhhhh……nice photo. Where was it taken? It looks other-worldly to me.
Elias is a great name. A name for the family to save.
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¡Felicidades a tu papá! A happy, gorgeous day all around.
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This too brought tears to my eyes. I remember papa telling me about Obama a few years ago and I’m glad he got to witness such an amazing event. I’ve heard the ridicule about my campus, but I know we will be able to come together soon around the greatest soon-to-be president!
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Awww, happy birthday to your dad!! What a wonderful photo! 🙂 I can imagine that he must be a very happy person living to 85 years! Here’s to 10+ years! 🙂 Cheers!
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Thanks for the comments, all. He had a great day yesterday.
Their phone rang all day yesterday. I talked briefly twice, and both times they had to run because they’d been on the phone with Happy Birthday wishers and others all day long.
Teri, I’ll try to find out where the photo was taken and report back. I don’t know if Dad will know, but I’ll ask.
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Amazing photo. 85 is quite a landmark. And what a gift.
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Great picture of your papa – he looks like my dad did at the same age – same burning eyes and serious face. What a lovely outcome for his 85th birthday! he has seen some incredible changes during his long life – and may he see many more for numerous years to come! G
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I’m late but want to wish the Happiest of Birthdays to your Father. The photo is so precious.
😉 H
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ybonesy, I really love this photograph of your dad as a baby. I keep coming back to it and just staring. What a gift that you were able to share this historic week with him and your mother. Very moving. It also reminds me that my own mother’s birthday is close at hand. Last year at this time, I flew home to Pennsylvania to surprise her. Ah, memories. How does time fly by so quickly.
Look at the body language of your distant relative, too, the way the hand is on the hip, and the eyes — straight into the camera. 8)
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Thanks, QM and others, for the sweet comments. Yes, the body language on the young woman is striking. Also the shape of her face.
The relative is a second cousin, named Nicomedes. (I love that name.) She was the daughter of my dad’s aunt (sister of his father). The second cousin came down from the branch of the family that was adopted from Spanish basque roots.
(Not so distant a cousin, although Dad didn’t know her well, and one of his main recollections of that family was that they allowed my dad and his siblings to come over one night when Dad’s mom had to take care of her husband’s funeral arrangements.)
Dad thinks the picture was taken in Costilla, north of Taos. What stands out for me in the photo is Dad’s dark features, his eyebrows framing almost jet black (yes, burning, G) eyes.
My sister Janet looked almost identical in her baby photos. She is the only one of us who got black hair.
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What a precious picture!! Happy Belated Birthday to your Father!!
What an amazing week we had!! I screamed too! There is a new energy here…even those in my family that were upset with me for how I voted are now saying positive things. 🙂
The first time I heard him speak, I knew.
YES WE DID!!
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[…] to post: November 5th, 2008 – ybonesy’s father is a Scorpio, too. And we were recently sharing with each other how much […]
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Happy belated birthday to your father. Elias is a beautiful name! Thanks for stopping by the claw too…
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Thanks for stopping by, Sherri. I love that name, too. Would have put it on a son, had I had one. (Although, Rafael was also in the mix, and Jim had his own opinion—Otis. Those names now belong to our boy dogs.)
I trust the taste of my blogging friends, so when I saw your blog mentioned, I wanted to check ‘ya out. Good to know you’re out there.
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Hey, suz, I missed your comment there. I was driving to work on Monday, yesterday, and I came across a simple homemade sign on plywood with black spray paint—YES WE DID. I burst into tears. So relieved. I remember in 2004 how the weight of the fear for our country and our future settled in, into my being. But time passes. We learn to live with our fears. Passing that sign reminded me of what I’d been carrying.
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Today, what’s left of it, is my dad’s birthday. 86. We went over to celebrate tonight, ate bowls of posole and chile, my niece made an awesome German Chocolate Cake and Mom made a coconut cream pie. Dad said mentally and emotionally he feels great, but unfortunately, his body isn’t doing so well. That’s true.
I love you Dad! You are the best ever.
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ybonesy, Happy belated birthday to your dad. Hard to believe another whole year has gone by. My mother’s birthday is coming up in a few days. The German Chocolate Cake sounds so good. Glad you got to celebrate with your family!
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