1977

On this day in 1977 my grandpa turned 61 years old. According to his journal, which I have in front of me, the low temp was 32 degrees and the high for the day was 62 degrees. 9.6 gallons of gas cost $5. He went to Ocala to look at a cattle trailer and then purchased feed for $7.28. Mom stopped over and took the dog Brownie home with her. Grandpa called my Aunt Karen. Aunt Pam came over for cake and coffee in the evening. And the meter had a reading of 8696 at 5:30 p.m.

He was a simple man. If he were alive today he would be 96. We would go over there, have cake, ice cream and coffee. The whole scene is so vivid in my head it's like it really happen. And it did. Starting the year I was born - 1977 - and every birthday for the next 25 years.

Happy Birthday Grandpa.