Dad turns 70!!!

THIS guys is turning 70 this weekend!

My kind, sweet-hearted, hard working, sturdy as a rock, Dad, is having a milestone birthday this weekend, and all of us kids, who love him THISSSSSS much get to help him celebrate!!!! It just so happens that SeaFair in Seattle falls on the same weekend as his birthday, so we are going to have a 3-day celebration, starting tomorrow, of all his favorite things, along with a couple surprises along the way!! Shhh, don’t tell him. 😉

Words can barely explain the love and respect I have for him. He has been my rock for over 30 years now, and continues to demonstrate hard work, perseverance, gratitude, a sense of humor, and a positive attitude to myself and everyone around him. A master of his practice as an Emergency Room physician, he is also the owner of a successful marketing company, runs a wellness clinic in Del Mar, and sometimes sells mortgages on the side! WHEW! I’m tired just thinking about it.

However, even with all his hard work, time, and effort put into his careers, he never misses a workout or a healthy breakfast of coffee, eggs, and blueberries with almond butter. This is what I wake up to when I go to San Diego to visit him!

Rockin’ it, Dad. See that little creature in the picture? That is his adorable dog Jackson who we are all absolutely in love with. They spend every San Diego sunset at dog park together, just the two of them, so happy together.

But before there was Jackson, his beloved pup, there was me! And I have always been my Dad’s biggest fan. He has been my best friend, my confidant, my inspiration, my teacher, my go-to when I need some words of advice, or just a pick-me-up phone call, and the man that I have been able to count on 100% since day one. I know that he would do anything for me, and that he will be there for me whether I am flying high or low and blue. Knowing that he will catch me is absolutely priceless, and just the reason that he is my favorite guy on earth.

From this…

To this…

I know that my Dad will always be standing not in front, and not behind, but right beside me. Look Dad, we even still have the same blue checkers in the picture after all this time!

Dad, we all love you with our whole hearts and are so THANKFUL to have you in our lives. You are a bright light in my life and I wish you the HAPPIEST of 70th birthdays! Here is to many more vodka martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives, bowls of strawberry ice cream with hot fudge, numerous pairs of leather suspenders, long rides in the convertible blasting the Grateful Dead, and making memories to look back on and smile about. I Love love love you.