Happy Brithday to my favorite father-in-law.  Of course you are the only one, but if all of the fathers-in-law were put into a group and I could have my pick, I would snatch you up again.  Today we celebrate the gift of your life, for which I am grateful to be a part.

Almost nine years ago you generously welcomed me into your family with an open mind and heart, and a good dose of teasing.  I enjoy your company, for you are easygoing and friendly, interesting and astute, unassuming and human, kind and generous, and honest and humorous.  I treasure your positive relationship with our children, and thank-you for the many trips you have made to the east coast to spend time with us.

I love to watch you grow all kinds of things--Meme's roses and cherry tomatoes, our Princeton elm, cherry tree, arbor vitae, and red-bud, not to mention all our foliaged friends in Baltimore.  John is continuing your tradition by making our garden more beautiful each year.

By far, your greatest contribution in growing things has been to raise two amazing human beings, John Harold and Laurie Charlotte.  Laurie is one incredibly talented and warm-hearted human being, whose grace and class have been and are a great blessing to me.  John is simply one of the finest men I have ever met, and I am so deeply thankful and blessed to be his wife.  He scores in the 99th percentile in the National Standardized Husbanding Test, which you may have not heard about, but you will soon, as Obama is encouraging Congress to introduce legislation requiring all husbands to take this test in a measure proposing to increase marital happiness across the board, which is expected to stimulate the sluggish economy.

In the past you have dismissed your part in raising your children, but I must reject your dismissal.  The apple does not rall far from the tree, and I see in John the substantive qualities you have exemplified, of which I am the daily beneficiary.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the person you are.

I raise my glass (don't worry--it's full of seltzer) to wish you a very happy birthday and a wonderful coming  year!

Love,
Lori