dad's 80th birthday party

the original plan called for a picnic at hough park, but the sky dumped buckets all morning, so there was a quick change to the church hall. assorted aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws begin to arrive.

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and the food.

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i'm made honorary vice-council to the undersecretary for cheez-it affairs.

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aunt stella and aunt francis arrive. aunt francis is my old fishing buddy; i haven't seen her for several years.

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the beers come out, and the smiles follow.

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the youngs made it! they're the couple who have rented the other half of my parents' duplex for almost 40 years and have been second parents for all of us.

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my sister flossie florence and some of her family.

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the whole group's assembled and fed, and the gifts come out. dad's already got his first silly hat on, though you can't see the propeller.

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there it is.

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silly hat #2.

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and on.

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and again, brighter.

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more and more gag gifts.

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aunt francis, cousin patrick, uncle lou, and 5% of uncle tom.

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a coin for dad's collection.

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mike's still trying to collect his $12.

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tearjerking time with one of dad's lunch buckets and a fine thank-you from marie for all he did for us.

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from john, a genealogy of the coveys going back three generations.

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my sister marie, who planned everything.

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a watercolor painted for dad by my niece erin.

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dad's cake.

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07/12/2004 -- someone gets word that the colonial building, one of the last old buildings downtown, is going to be demolished starting this morning. john, marie, aunt lena, and cousin patty walk over to watch.

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one of the trees that's grown inside the building during the years that it's been vacant.

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a wider view.

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the first bricks come down.

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another wider view.

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someone spotted this little star on one of the chimneys.

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john also took these movies of the demolition with his camera:

• p7120050.mov (12mb)
• p7120052.mov (7mb)
• p7120053.mov (3mb)

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