Monday 8 December 2008

Happy Birthday, Gerald Monroe!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
My father's birthday cake of choice

My father was born on December 8, 1941 -- the day after Pearl Harbor.

Ten things which remind me of my father:
  1. Steak and onion pie and pineapple upside-down cake (because that is always his birthday dinner)
  2. Diana Krall (because he loves a good crooner)
  3. Aggie Football (because he is an alumnus and loyal fan)
  4. Popcorn (his favorite snack, and mine, too! the smell of popcorn is my childhood)
  5. Games - especially three-handed bridge and chickenfoot dominoes (because he is a fierce, fun and fair competitor)
  6. Handel's Messiah (because he sings in the Church Choir)
  7. A well-grilled steak (because nobody does it better)
  8. Fishing (because he takes all four of his grandchildren, and patiently deals with the fallout)
  9. Dancing (because he is a real smoothie on the dance floor)
  10. Atticus Finch (because he is a lawyer, and now judge, of honorable character. He is scrupulously honest and I've never heard him say a bad word about anyone.)

I love you, Daddy! xx

17 comments:

Sarah Laurence said...

Happy Birthday Mr. Monroe!

Tess Kincaid said...

That pineapple upside down cake looks scrumptious! I haven't eaten it since my childhood.

Happiest of birthdays, Mr. Monroe!

Brave Sir Robin said...

Happy Birthday!!!!!! To Daddy Bee!! (What else would I call him?)

Other than that unfortunate Aggie thing, he sounds like my kind of guy. Steak, popcorn, chicken foot, Handel's Messiah, ......Well, OK - I'm a little short to be considered smooth on the dance floor.

Did you make that cake? It looks delish, and it is one of my favorites.

So happy Birthday Gerald, you've got a wonderful daughter, thanks for sharing her with us, we really appreciate it.

Cindy said...

Happy Birthday to Bee's Dad! Born just 13 days before my Dad.

Bee said...

Sarah, Willow, BSR and Cindy - Thank you for joining with me in wishing my father a happy birthday! Monroe is actually his middle name; I've always thought that it sounded rather grand.

I did indeed make that pineapple upside-down cake for the occasion. Funnily enough, I HAD never made one for my kids and I didn't even realize. (I did/do have a firm belief that it should be made in a cast iron skillet -- which I don't possess -- but my mom said "nonsense," so I used my tarte tatin cake tin.

BSR - I know you're a Texas fan, so we will just gloss over the Aggie thing. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Mr Monroe !
With best wishes from a freezing but sunny England !

TBM said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet Daddy! When I was growing up, I used to make pineapple upside down cakes for my dad's birthday too. Is it a Texas thing?!

We were listening to Diana Krall all weekend long :-)

Dave King said...

A day late, so happy unbirthday to your dad. I wouldn't mind joining in the celebrations to help with the eating of that cake. I remeber those, but haven't had one in ages. A happy rest of his life!

Bee said...

Debski - I went for a walk this morning and we were slipping and sliding on black ice down in the "hollows." The sun is deceptive; it is cold! Thanks for wishing my father a Happy B'day.

JAPRA - Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is a truly nostalgic dessert. The book I got the recipe mentions that the author's mother started making that cake in the 1920s! Funnily enough, it was a popular dessert in Trinidad.

Dave King - Thanks for the good sentiments. I hope that my father still has many, many happy days to enjoy.

Alyson | New England Living said...

Oh, how lovely! Happy birthday, Gerald!

Bitty said...

Happy birthday, Mr. G!

I second BSR's thoughts - he must be a heck of a man: look at the daughter he raised!

I hope his day was splendid.

Bee said...

Alyson and Bitty - Thank you, sweet friends.

Anonymous said...

I remember a very festive bout of games with Gerry one Thanksgiving. He is indeed fair and fun. A very loving birthday tribute to your Dad. How funny that he likes Pineapple upside down cake. I just made it last week in class and it took me back to my days of Home Ec in Sr school.It is so 70's. The funniest part was hearing my classmates try to say Upside down cake and me doing the Spanish translation! I am flattered to be in such good Dec birthday company.

Bee said...

Bon Bon - Yes, you and Gerry are both Sagitarians. Perhaps that is why you are both good at games?

So what is Upside Down in Espanol?

Anonymous said...

Funny how our families have so many birthdays clustered together. I find myself drawn to other Sadges quite often. As to my translation (which is poor to say the least)of the Pineapple cake I apparently told them it was "upstairs aside downstairs" cake. Very Mrs.Beeton.
Which reads "arriba/acostada/ abajo when I should have said boca abajo. Shall I ever master this language. In class last week I also asked for a " stain" instead of a piping bag!!!!! There is only one letter difference in the words. I shall percevere as there is no other choice........

Bee said...

Well, your "Hola" on the phone sounded very authentic!

k said...

that is lovely! happy bday bee's daddy!