Twenty two years ago, my mother threw my father a surprise 50th birthday party. People from his past came, some across country, to attend… My parents were kind of poor as church-mice, so the guests actually had to pay for the honor of coming, in lieu of a gift. Which they did. My dad could always fill a room.

This is the “roast/testimonial” I gave, awkwardly and with some stutters, but there it is, in any case.

My brother (half-brother, but I hate saying that, since it sounds like he has no legs) was back in contact with us at that point and thankfully allowed my dad to have this moment with his two sons, which meant all the world to him.

Here’s a confession I make to you, Internet-reader. Every so often I will open this video on youtube and just advance the time-counter to the 4:12 mark and watch him hug me and my brother and remember how happy he was that day.

Happy birthday, Pop. I miss you.