My Dad's 50th Birthday Party

Wow, this is just so surreal to me. I look at this photo of my Dad's 50th Birthday Party and it feels like yesterday AND a life time ago. What really blows my mind is that this March, I will turn 60. Ten whole years older than Dad was when this photo was taken. I look at all the loved ones no longer with us. They all deserve an honorable mention. Let's start with the matriarch of this bunch. 

Aunt Margaret. She loved her Bobby (my father). Whenever he was in a room where she was she would drift over to him. They both liked to have a cold one together. Dad of course is right next to her.  I miss him, and even more around the holidays. My lord, we all look so young but I guess that is because we are.

Richie is holding Melissa and it looks like she is battling him. Bobby is standing right behind them. That was bold wearing a pink shirt but Bobby was always bold. You knew when he walked into any room. I still can't quite comprehend what happened there. I probably never will. 

Next to Bobby is Michael.  He was always standing beside his brother. Next to Michael is Christine and her ex husband Mike Kelly. Then there is me and my Ex Michael Russo who passed away at the age of 49 of cancer. He loved his cigarettes. The cancer started in his throat and made its way everywhere else from there.

Next comes Mary and I am not sure who is standing behind her. If anyone knows who that is, please feel free to post that in the comments section below. 

Then comes my step siblings ( I guess they are still legally steps since our parents were not divorced at the time of their deaths) That is Lynn and behind her is John. John unfortunately passed away unexpectedly and I don't know anymore than that. I can say that I know he had been dealing with oral cancer but that was supposed to be gone so I don't know what ultimately killed him.  

I think the girl next to John was his girlfriend. I don't think it was our step sister Karen. If she were their her husband Arty and the kids would have been there too. Last in the back row is Lynn.  

Kneeling down is dear Uncle Vinnie, forever missed and loved. Next to Uncle Vinnie is Theresa and Aunt Virginia. My daughter Danielle is next to Aunt Virginia. I can still close my eyes and see her just like this again. I miss her being a child. I miss being a mother to a child.  When you are going through it at times you are exhausted and stressed. When it is over, you just want all those moments back again. 

I see Nancy, who always had to be the center of attention, even when the day had absolutely nothing to do with her. She illustrates it perfectly being front and center of this picture. Sorry, that's just the truth and as you all know, I am brutally honest. Nancy passed away a few years ago. A 2nd stroke a few months after a first took her.
Then there is our beloved Debs. I love this picture of her and Nicole. She looks so very happy. 

I do believe this was the only time that my father's children and most of Nancy's children were together for any sort of event other than their wedding which is a haze to me now. I don't have any pictures of that other than their wedding picture which never pleased me. 

 Mary, if you need any of this for Ancestry, feel free to grab it.