Only the Beginning

Wow! You made it. The four of us tried (most of the time unintentionally) to send you to an early grave, but you battled everything we thought up and came back stronger if not a little grayer on top. My theory is that the color change is due to internal cranial pressure caused by stress pushing the grey stuff from the inside out, away from where it is really needed. Medical science may call it dementia but I prefer parenthood. Whatever it is, the first sign is repetition of the phrase "Have I told you this story before?" Hell yes you have, but because we love you and still enjoy hearing about how you and your brothers caused each other massive internal injuries and mostly unnoticeable brain damage, we listen to those stories again like it was the first time.

Fortunately for us, you survived your childhood and six younger brothers who would have loved nothing more than to move up a spot in the age rankings. 

None of this would even be possible if you had not found a girl who, despite your cootie infestation, allowed you to hold hands with her, take her to barn dances, cow tipping, and all the other thing couples did as courtship rituals in the 1940's.

(Full-blown cooties at 50, sadly still no cure)

Maybe it was all your skills she fell in love with.

Dutch oven skills

Mullet skills

 'Stache skills

Whatever the reasons, fortunately the two of you decided to start a family and  wound up with four beautifully dysfunctional children, we were all meant for each other and still are.