I had this crazy idea, let’s clear the house and throw dad a surprise birthday party. I thought she was going to freak out, but honestly that mother of mine, she just sat across from the little table where we were eating crepes and said ‘ok.’ And just like that we were planning a party. It came together with weeks of hard work and planning and then the moment we brought him in the house and he saw everyone there, his face lit up. It was a face I will never forget. He was so surprised. Not just surprised. Stunned. Everyone was there. Many had not seen him in years, several driving hours just to be at his party. For him.
And as the night went on, as I expected it to, something happened that I wasn’t expecting. You see when you’re young, this man, you know him as your father. And then when you get a little older, you get to know him as more of a adult who just had kids, just like the rest of the world. But during this party I got to know the people that worked for him and called him their boss. It was a side of him I had never seen before. They looked up to him, valued his opinion, trusted him, and built friendships. Because this person that I’ve known all these years first as a father, then as an adult, I now know was a hard working supervisor and friend to everyone he worked with.
I’d like to send a huge thank you to my friend Peter who came to shoot the party for me, half of these beautiful images are his! Thank you Peter, I know I said it a million times, but we are forever grateful that you were there with us!! We decided on a vintage nautical theme since Dad loved to spend his summers on the Chesapeake Bay!
I snagged this sail from Dad’s house, the one that we actually used to sail with, on his 38′ Morgan and the oars before we sold his house in downtown Annapolis.
The invitations were lined with old nautical charts, and hand addressed in gold by my sister.
I made all the paper pieces, starting with the invitations stamped in gold and closed with a gold rivet and sailing knot.
This Sláinte plaque we gave to my dad several years ago for fathers day which hung in the cabin on his boat until he sold it, and now has been sitting on his shelves for the last couple of years. We decided to place it at the head of the table right in front of him. Sláinte is an Irish toast meaning “good health.”
Just Cakes in Bethesda did an amazing job with Dad’s ombre wave-like birthday cake.
Now THAT is what I call a dessert table; Mom made the rest of the desserts and did a superb job.
“Take some sweet treats for the road”
This is my G-pa. He is a very young ninty-six. And he has an iPhone. I don’t have an iPhone. Something is wrong with this picture.
I was starting to wonder if Dad was suspecting anything, but seeing his face when Brian turned him around. Nope. He knew nothing.
I love this one. Together. And happy.
Very special birthday wishes.
Contact megan beth here. Join me on Facebook here. Follow me on twitter here. And please leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you!
Contact megan beth here. Join me on Facebook here. Follow me on twitter here. And please leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you!
Contact 
Contact 
1 comment
Mary Anne - I have to agree on rainy NY days. BUT, you still take amazing pictures, and it looks like you had a great time! Maybe for one of your next Q&A posts… When you are just out and about having fun, what is your go to lens?May 22, 2012 – 4:58 pm