Saturday, August 16, 2025 – Day 368

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Good morning, Andy’s Army!

Yesterday was one for the books. It began with Cindy asking if I could make a quick trip to the driveway—someone wanted to see me. I grabbed a cane and slowly shuffled out, not knowing what to expect. Rounding the cars, I blurted out a “holy sh*t” (oops..:there were kids present!) as I came face-to-face with Harper and Lainey, flanked by Mike and Beth, standing proudly in front of a giant chalk mural shouting Happy Birthday. What a surprise—and what a start to the day. Their artwork put a huge smile on my face. Thank you, girls (and thank you, Mike and Beth, for helping). I only wish we had snapped a photo of the artists for the blog.

From there, the well-wishes poured in—cards, texts, and what felt like half of Facebook. I did my best to keep up, and I’m still working on replies this morning. Some of the notes were so heartfelt they stopped me in my tracks. Thank you for lifting me up. ❤️

By mid-morning it was time to get out and celebrate properly. We headed to the fitness club—not for a workout (don’t laugh), but to lounge by the pool with a book, naps, and plenty of people-watching. I considered a dip, but the thought of swimming with a tube hanging out of my stomach still doesn’t quite sell me. Honestly, a lazy afternoon in the sun was perfect.

Dinner was at Paisano’s in Richmond, with my brothers—Tim, Tom, and Nick—their spouses, and even Tim and Shawn’s daughter Felecia and her husband Matt. We’d heard glowing reviews of this place, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. From the cheerful staff outside the door to our wonderful server, Star, the night had a great vibe from the start.

The three birthday boys offered a few toasts, the food was fantastic, and the portions were so generous I’ll be working on leftovers all week. Sharing birthdays as triplets has always been a joy—lots of attention, lots of laughter, and never a dull moment. Out of 66 birthdays, this one’s definitely a keeper.

MJ capped the evening with a sweet surprise—a platter of Deerfield Bakery desserts. As tradition goes, the three of us lined up behind the assorted desserts and followed as usual by the song happy birthday. By the end of the song while the entire restaurant joined in a rousing “Happy Birthday.” Pretty special.

Tom and MJ snuck their credit card to Star, while everyone was picking out their dessert choice(s) and picked up the dinner tab. Thank you both—for dinner, dessert, and generosity.

Walking out, nearly every table we passed called out “Happy Birthday!” It was the perfect end to a perfect night.

Today we keep the party going…the kids are coming to Crystal Lake to celebrate with us along with some family and a few locals. Love a weekend birthday!

Have a great Saturday.
Love you guys! ❤️