Art likes to make sure everyone else's birthday is recognized and celebrated. However, he never expects anything for himself.
When I woke up I was surprised to find Art already downstairs cooking up some blueberry-strawberry pancakes for Mom and me. He'd already gone for a morning walk instead of a run.
The pancakes were huge and very delicious!
He then spent the morning reading every word of the Star Advertiser paper with almost no interruption until...
I answered my cellphone and heard a familiar voice say, "Is this you, grandma? Could I talk to grandpa?"
When I passed the phone over to Art I heard, "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!" They had a wonderful birthday chat.
A birthday song arrived via e-mail in Spanish from our dear friends in Illinois.
We had a lazy morning and then we went to Jamba Juice. I used our BOGO (Buy One Get One free) coupon to buy smoothies for our lunch. The servers there are so very nice. We asked if we could have a smoothie that wasn't so tart. I had a custom made Peenya Kowlada (No coconut, no banana, substitute strawberries) and Art had a Bananaberry. Both were really quite yummy! I wish they'd bring back the frappacino.
Once in the car, we got an urgent call from Tiffany in Illinois. "Mom! Where are you guys? Jon is at an Internet cafe in Lima, Peru waiting to wish Dad a happy birthday! He's not in a good part of town and it's getting dark there already."
We got home in about 10 minutes and Jon called.
"Peru is amazing," he told us. "If we'd known there would be so many beautiful places to hike and climb we would have planned to stay here longer."
A half hour after we told Jon he needed to get himself back to the hotel since we could see headlights behind him signaling the evening, Art's sister called with birthday wishes from California.
Art chose the Tadashi restaurant across from Pearl Ridge shopping center for his birthday dinner. We all had the butterfish which was very good.
Dessert was this humongous seedless watermelon!
He's not telling me what he wished for because then it might not come true. If he wished for a sweet watermelon, however, that wish was granted.
POSTSCRIPT: And then... just to add to the birthday sweetness, my brother and sister-in-law came by with a chocolate haupia cake.
When I woke up I was surprised to find Art already downstairs cooking up some blueberry-strawberry pancakes for Mom and me. He'd already gone for a morning walk instead of a run.
The pancakes were huge and very delicious!
He then spent the morning reading every word of the Star Advertiser paper with almost no interruption until...
I answered my cellphone and heard a familiar voice say, "Is this you, grandma? Could I talk to grandpa?"
When I passed the phone over to Art I heard, "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!" They had a wonderful birthday chat.
A birthday song arrived via e-mail in Spanish from our dear friends in Illinois.
We had a lazy morning and then we went to Jamba Juice. I used our BOGO (Buy One Get One free) coupon to buy smoothies for our lunch. The servers there are so very nice. We asked if we could have a smoothie that wasn't so tart. I had a custom made Peenya Kowlada (No coconut, no banana, substitute strawberries) and Art had a Bananaberry. Both were really quite yummy! I wish they'd bring back the frappacino.
Once in the car, we got an urgent call from Tiffany in Illinois. "Mom! Where are you guys? Jon is at an Internet cafe in Lima, Peru waiting to wish Dad a happy birthday! He's not in a good part of town and it's getting dark there already."
We got home in about 10 minutes and Jon called.
"Peru is amazing," he told us. "If we'd known there would be so many beautiful places to hike and climb we would have planned to stay here longer."
A half hour after we told Jon he needed to get himself back to the hotel since we could see headlights behind him signaling the evening, Art's sister called with birthday wishes from California.
Art chose the Tadashi restaurant across from Pearl Ridge shopping center for his birthday dinner. We all had the butterfish which was very good.
Dessert was this humongous seedless watermelon!
He's not telling me what he wished for because then it might not come true. If he wished for a sweet watermelon, however, that wish was granted.
POSTSCRIPT: And then... just to add to the birthday sweetness, my brother and sister-in-law came by with a chocolate haupia cake.
Wow! Art has a lot of fans. What a MODERN birthday with all that electronic stuff going on. It's past my bed time. Henry Hank Chapin
ReplyDeleteTechnology is a wonderful thing, Hank.
DeleteHow super that everyone checked in with birthday greatings. A nice day.
ReplyDeleteI think Art is well loved across the world. And because of your blog, I can wish him happy birthday, too! What a great day. He is a very lucky man and I think he knows it. :-)
ReplyDeleteAwww... he'll be tickled to hear this.
DeleteFor someone who expects nothing for himself on his birthday, I'd say Art made out like a bandit. That's the perfect birthday.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful birthday for a selfless man! I loved KC's call.
ReplyDeletethat was a perfect day, the watermelon sounds wonderful, its so hard to get a good one here.Very interesting your sons call from Peru, what an adventurous family you have.Belated Birthday wishes to Art!
ReplyDeletesounds like a fun day with lots of events for the birthday boy and greetings from family and friends!
ReplyDeleteEven though Art didn't expect any celebrating for his birthday the smile on his face looks like he enjoyed it all. Happy birthday Art!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY, ART. I have dined at Tadashi's in Pearl Kai several times. But I have never tasted chocolate haupia CAKE. Wow! Is it much different from the PIE? Where did they buy the cake?
ReplyDeleteI believe the cake is from Zippys. My favorite is still the Ted's pie though.
DeleteWhat a HOOT to see a candle on the watermelon. You warned us that Art really loves watermelon in your posts. But with those big pancakes and special cake, I still don't think Art could get fat. I'm so glad you all are enjoying retirement. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteThose 8 + mile jogs of his take care of any extra calories he consumes. Actually, he has to take in calories for those he loses. Hmmmm... we've been so busy with our guest, watching the Olympics, and waiting for a little surgery on his chest to heal that he hasn't been able to jog for a couple of weeks. So maybe he WILL put on a pound or two.
DeleteWonderful story.
ReplyDeleteNice family!!
Happy be late birthday to your husband!!
Mary L
Hello, Mary L. I'm so pleased to meet you. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
DeleteOh, what a great birthday. How perfect that every time he turned around there was another good thing happening. Happy birthday Art from us here on the mainland. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to chuckle at that watermelon "cake"...lol you weren't kidding when you said Art loves watermelon. Hope it was the sweetest!!
ReplyDeleteYour family is the greatest Kay, and why birthdays can mean so much.
L. from W.
Thanks, L. Actually, we pretty much downplay our own birthdays these days.
DeleteHappy Birthday, Art!
ReplyDeleteIs that a Maui watermelon? I'm going to run right down to the KTA and see if they have them!
I'm not sure where that watermelon came from. Local though.
DeleteHappy Birthday Art. You really had a grand one with all the family connections including Jon from Peru. Skype is amazing and really shrinks the world. Have a great year.
ReplyDeleteKay: I sent you a comment on a post you did back in 2011 (about Yuuyake Koyake), so don't know enough about this blogging stuff to know whether you'll actually get it, but hope you do (your cousin Lorna from Kauai).
ReplyDeleteHi Lorna!
DeleteThis is too fabulous! I love it! We finally get to connect again after over 50 years! I can hardly believe it, and on my blog no less! I did write you a rather long reply on that other post about Yuyake Koyake. Could you hop back there to read it?
And yes, all comments come directly to my e-mail so I get to see them without a problem.
I'd love to hear from you anytime!
Love,
Your Oahu cousin Kay
Hi again, Lorna!
DeleteOh durn it! I totally goofed. I was just talking to mom and realized that I got two songs mixed up. Yuyake Koyake is about walking home at dusk. I had Karasu Naze Nakuno in my brain. Sheesh. That one is about a mother crow. They are both really beautiful songs. Japanese children's songs are really beautiful, but maybe that's just because I have fond memories of my mom singing them.
Kay-san: I also remember the songs about teru teru bozu and chi-chi papa (suzume no gako) that Mom taught us. Funny what things come to mind from the past when you're in your dotage. Or should I say, "yikes"!
DeleteHappy Birthday to a great guy!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your service.
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
<(-'.'-)>
> < } } ( ° >
Belated Happy Birth Day Art..Seems you all had a great time..
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Art. He looks absolutely delighted with the chocolate cake! I hope he chose to share it with you all.
ReplyDeleteOh... he definitely shared. :-)
DeleteThis sounds like a perfectly lovely birthday, full of family contact and good food.
ReplyDelete