Birthday

While Tom was away in Chicago, his friend Debbie Kinder and her husband came by to set up the display in our yard that you see in the photo. Debbie had come into possession of seven flamingos from a women's retreat group you attends, and she wanted to surprise Tom with them. Because they had been used in an ongoing prank over a period of years, they are a bit battered and worn, but they are now sitting at the end of the sidewalk, bringing the number of pink flamingos in our front yard to 38.

That, incidentally, is quite a bit shy of the number of years Tom is celebrating for his birthday.

Tom is a very generous man, but he also doesn't like celebrations very much, being the center of attention or getting gifts. It made it a challenge for me to find something for him. I found a Hallmark card that plays the theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (he has an extensive collection of Clint Eastwood movies) that says, "It's just a birthday... face it like a man!"

There is a craft mall nearby that has little bags of stuff for gag gifts. So I got him a "Pocket Exercise Kit", which consists of a small wooden block. The directions say,

1. Place block in the middle of room.
2. Run around block twice.
3. Sit down and relax. You've done two laps around the block!!

Then there is a packet of three Cow Seeds", which look like Lima beans with black spots painted on them. The instructions say to plant them six feet apart (cows grow really big) and right side up (or cows will grow upside down). Cow seeds are self-fertilizing (don't think about it) and need lots of time to grow. They suggest mooing softly while watering.

Finally there is the "Old Age Survival Kit" which contains

Aspirin: For all your new aches and pains.
Match: To put the fire back in your life.
Rubber band: To give you your flexibility back.
Toothpick: To help you prop your eyes open so you don't fall asleep.
Gem: A reminder of how valuable you are.
String: To tie around your finger so you won't forget things.
Marble: To replace the ones you've lost!!!
Birdseed: For impromptu dinner parties at the park.

I had invited Peggy to join us for dinner tonight, partly because it;s Tom's birthday and partly because Rich is still in Canada. (They got Tom a cap.) She offered to bring an apple pie, and I was planning to make enchiladas suizas. Then after it was all arranged, Tom got a call and has to go to a meeting, so that's that. We will try to get her over one night while Michelangelo is here. She met him last time he was visiting.