Dad's 65th

Rolling onto the pickleball court, I saw everyone who meant something to my dad. It was his 65th birthday party. Everyone from his high school days to people who shared his love of the game were there. The large, open space was filled with nets in the air and white squares on the floor. Players were laughing and eating on the sidelines.

“Hi, Hannah! How are you?” Jane, a friend of my parents, exclaimed. Her ponytail bounced as she walked toward me.

“Great, how are you?”

“I’m good…”

“No, I have a better question. What’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in 2025 so far?”

That’s such a better question! I told Jane about how Sharon Draper had followed me on Instagram. She wrote Out of My Mind, a book about a fourth grader who has Cerebral Palsy. I think it’s amazing that she followed me. Subsequently, I searched for Draper’s agent, whom I successfully found after a 30-minute investigation. I met her, and she was a fountain of wisdom.

“That’s impressive,” Jane responded.

“Hey, Jane, get out on the court!” Mom yelled happily.

“I’m being summoned.”

I rolled over and watched. Mom had been friends with these women for 40 years or more. Through cancer diagnoses, parents passing away, the ups and downs of motherhood, and nights like tonight, their friendship endured. I’m in awe. The men of the group could say the same thing. They are truly a remarkable group of people.

After the game, Mom got everyone to sing to Dad. It was fun to hear all the voices that made up my parents’ lives. Rolling through the myriad of people, I heard a full-grown man call my name.

Who is that?

“Jake?”

“Yeah, and this is my girlfriend.”

The last time I saw you was high school graduation, and now you’re an adult.

“Hi.”

The core memory of David, my little brother and his friends I have is all of them in Little League and me being bored to death and insisting on having my iPod in. Mom always understood and helped me with my headphones. I was fourteen and appreciated listening to NSYNC during these long games.

“Nice to see you, Hannah,” David said as he came over and gave me a sweaty hug. He continued, “Catching up with Jake?”

“Yeah,” I replied, before he and his friends jogged off to play.

By that time, I had talked to everyone and was ready to go.

“Hey, Mom. I’m going to go.”

Leaning in for a hug, she said, “It’s been fun. Thanks for coming.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Dad's birthday celebration. It was a beautiful reminder of how the people in our lives shape us—and how some bonds only grow stronger with time. Thank you for being part of our lives!