Manifesto Q: Zero to Sixty

This is a very public forum that I have chosen to do this, but I feel that a man as great as my dad deserves a public announcement of his 60th Birthday!!! Plus, men aren't as touchy about revealing their age as some women, finger turned to self, can be. For a sixty year old man I think he is aging rather well! Since I'm his namesake- is that the proper way to say that? - I was named after him, I owe him more than just a thank you for a great name and the person I am so far.

Happy Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

What was happening in the world during August 1949?

By August 1949 there were 2,000,000 television sets in US, with 720,000 in New York city alone.

First VW Beetle arrives in U.S.

South Pacific opens on Broadway

Partially deaf singer, whose song Cry was a number 1 hit. Ray actually cried in performing the song. He was a top star in 1949 and 1950 with his other hit songs The Little White Cloud that Cried and Walking in the Rain.

Harry S. Truman began his second term in 1949 beating out Thomas Dewey.

Silly Putty is introduced by New Haven, Conn., advertising man Peter C. L. Hodgson, 37, who has discovered a substance developed by General Electric researchers looking for a viable synthetic rubber. The useless silicone substance can be molded like soft clay, stretched like taffy, bounced like a rubber ball, and can pick up printed matter when pressed down on newsprint and transfer it, but the stuff has no market until Hodgson borrows $147 to buy a batch from GE, hires a Yale student to separate it into one-ounce globs, packages it in clear compact plastic cases at $1 each, advertises it in a catalogue of toys he is preparing for a local store, and finds that Silly Putty is an immediate success.

The KitchenAid dishwasher introduced by the 52-year-old Hobart Co. will eventually become the largest-selling brand but will have little success until its advertising promotes the idea that machine-washed dishes and glasses are more sanitary than those washed by hand (see Cochrane, 1913).

for more 1949 facts click here

I've known my dad for a decent fraction of his sixty years. I have always been somewhat of a "daddy's girl" and am often told that I have many of his attributes. (The good ones, because thats all either of us has! LOL).

I have fond memories of helping my dad, going to work with him, and generally just hanging out with him. Whenever we would be working or riding in his truck together, there would always be music. I have my dad to thank for my endless passion of Oldies, Rock, & Classic Rock. The Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, James Gang, The Hollies, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, Turtles, Byrds and so many others are a huge part of my music education and love because of daddy. He was always supportive of me and always encouraged me to set goals for myself and to follow through with them. I get my excellent sense of direction from him, and he taught me to pay attention to my surroundings.

Dad is a snorer, he snores. I remember when I was about seven, I had a boombox radio with a cassette player that would record. I think at the time dad was in disbelief at how well his snoring resonated throughout the house, and kept prowlers at bay. Clever- seven- year-old me fixed that: I put a blank tape in the boombox and hit record while placing the speakers close to dad's head. Insta hit! When he awoke we played the tape back for him. I remember how funny that was to see him laugh and hear himself snore. No more debate about that!

I just had the most wonderful weekend with you, Dad and Mom, here in LA. We did lots of things to celebrate the past 60 and the next 60. Since we were at the Hollywood Bowl listening to the wonderful LAPhil play Tchaikovsky while fireworks were going off -- we didn't get a chance to toast just for you! Cheers to you, Papa Bear! I love you! I hope this is and has been a memorable birthday! I always feel like we don't get enough time, the clock speeds up when you come to Cali, please come back and visit me soon. Loves, xoxo.