Happy 60th birthday Dad

My father’s birthday was actually last week, but as my sister and I were in Japan at the time, we postponed his surprise party until this evening.

The venue was Cento Venti on Collins St. in the city where we booked out the entire front room. The food, wine and service was absolutely exceptional. We had a total of 44 people in attendance which includes myself and our family, so all in all there were roughly 37 guests, pretty much only my father’s closest and best friends and relatives. The few close friends who couldn’t make it sent extensive and detailed telegrams which we didn’t read out as they were quite personal.

My father isn’t a foolish man, he pretty much clued onto the fact that we were organising something, but he still thoroughly enjoyed the evening, as did every single person in attendance.

It is impossible for me to make public what are private matters, private elements to our relationship that bind my father and I so closely together that he is my first, closest and best friend in my life. I cannot translate into verbal language even the tiniest indication of an idea regarding how close dad and I are. While we might take it as a light-hearted anecdote if I were to say that I am alive because of him, in a much more serious sense, and not at all pertaining only to my birth, I literally am alive today because six years ago my father kept me alive during my illness. We were extremely close before then, grew closer together during that difficult time and continue to learn more about each-other and grow closer together.

I am more proud of my father than of anything or anyone I have ever felt pride for in my life. I have been nothing short of privileged and blessed to have been raised by him, and every single other person there expressed a similar gratitude for the ways he’s affected them in their lives.

It was without question, a most perfect evening.

Happy birthday dad, you are the greatest among men, and the coolest friend I have.