My father celebrates his 80th birthday in 2008 with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren (photo by Kenn Stearns)

In 1928 (MCMXXVIII) the Summer Olympics opened in Amsterdam which also introduced Coca Cola to Europe. Women in the United Kingdom earned the right to vote. Herbert Hoover defeated Alfred E. Smith in the U.S. presidential election. Mickey Mouse appeared in his first cartoon with sound. Joseph Stalin launched the First Five-Year Plan. And on April 15, Howard Malcolm Stearns, Jr. was born.

My father’s birthday also became Tax Day in 1955 thanks to Congress. They started with March 1, but the Revenue Act of 1918 moved the date forward to March 15. The next legislative over-haul was in 1955 when they chose April 15.

Two years ago my father celebrated his 80th birthday in Houston. Surrounded by about 100 friends and family members, he held court impressively. Everyone had a story about Mac. He was very happy.

Today my father is busier in retirement than I am at work. After a career that took him to the nation’s largest cities, he retired to a small one in Louisiana. He needs a little help hearing after years of hunting everything from antelope to polar bears. He remains active in true community theater – directing, acting, and fund-raising. He enjoys a cigar now and then on the back porch. He is very happy.

My father has a Facebook page. He drives a Toyota Scion. He uses an iPod touch and will soon have an iPad. We likes to Skype over a cup of hot tea. When he knows I’m coming to visit he meets me in the driveway before I can get out of the car. When I spoke to him a couple days ago he had to end the call so he could get to rehearsal on time for the next play at the Iberia Performing Arts League’s Essanee Theater. Happy birthday Dad. You make me happy too.

Mac in Rabbi wardobe for a role in Fiddler on the Roof with his granddaughter Katy in 2006 (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Mac in Big Jule wardobe for a role in Guys and Dolls with his granddaughter KC last month (photo by Kenn Stearns)