My father, Don Elias, turns 61 today. Wow! Sixty-One (3 years shy of that Beatles song) That’s insane, I’ve been telling people my dad is young, that “he’s like 50 something. I think like early 50s.” Not anymore. Our old man is 61 and as he told me over the phone today, “ya voy en la bajada.” Luckily for him, my siblings and I have done a pretty amazing job with giving him and my mother some beautiful grandchildren to pump some youth back into them. I can’t wait until the day comes that I can hand him over my son and say “Here you go dad, I want you to meet my son.” I know it will be just one of the many pleasures Lissette and I will enjoy, sharing our little one with family.

Gifts in the form of shirts and socks are no more for my dad. I stopped doing that a few years ago and even though it can mostly be attributed to me being lazy, I always manage to send him something special. Below is what I sent him: a card with words that only he and I know what they mean and then the latest ultrasound picture of my son. If you’re having trouble figuring it out, it’s basically a picture of his face and he’s looking right at you. Pretty neat huh? The frame I made out of a used cardboard vinyl box. I’m crafty.

Stuff like that up there gets me emotional these days and then my brother goes on and blogs about THIS just this morning? Nombre…How lucky am I? Very much so, I say. Usually thinking about all these things and how they make me feel to be so fortunate to be where I am right now in regards to family, is the best way to stroll right into my birthday tomorrow. I’ll be by the phone tomorrow, waiting for my dad to call me and see how he liked his gift.

Happy Birthday, Dad! Can’t wait to share Father’s Day next year with all the Cornejo men!