C&Lers know my father passed away in June this year, which really hit me pretty hard, but he lived to eighty-two and thankfully didn't suffer when h
December 25, 2009

C&Lers know my father passed away in June this year, which really hit me pretty hard, but he lived to eighty-two and thankfully didn't suffer when he passed. But today is his birthday. I wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday online and celebrate his passing.

Every so often he complained that he got cheated out of a real birthday celebration because of the Christmas holiday, but he did enjoy having his birthday on Christmas, because our whole family was there to give him his cake.

Growing up, my family celebrated Christmas with all our relatives, and it was the one time each year that all my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents got together on the same day.

After he turned about 50, one of his favorite things to do in life was to dress up as Santa and entertain the kids. He did it almost every Christmas after that, and when he retired from Local 94 in New York, he really looked forward to the holiday season -- because frankly, he was the best Santa I ever saw.

Miracle on 34th Street was one of my favorite Christmas movies growing up as a kid, and my father loved it just as much. The star of the movie was Kris Kringle. And so Dad, here's to you on your birthday -- the world's best Santa Claus.

I hope everybody has a great holiday season.

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