The Braves did better for Dad’s 58th birthday than for Kathy’s 28th. After two losses in Minnesota, they swept the Twins in Atlanta Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The whole town was celebrating. Dad and Mom were able to go to the game Thursday night. Dad was very excited. “I’ve thought about doing a lot of things. I’ve even thought about going to heaven, but I never thought about getting to go to a World Series!”

And the Braves cleaned ’em up. Looked like batting practice.

So Friday night’s birthday party for Dad was that much more fun. We did the Tomahawk chop wherever we could work it in. Grant would invent lyrics on the fly, and we would all chime in. Carol, Ted, and Grant were there with Kathy, Bob, Nicole, Danny, and Eric. We’ve started substituting sweatshirts and books for cigars. The candy and fudge were appreciated as much as ever.

(Little did Danny, Dad, Carol, or Bob know that Eric was carrying a little extra present for them. Actually, Bob and Carol should have known. Eric had been throwing up the night before.)