Here I am, surrounded by 100 of my close friends and family members. It's my 80th birthday! I don't know where all the time has gone; a blink of the eye, and I'm this old. How did I get here? I don't feel 80; I feel like I did when I was 50. My memory is not quite what it used to be and my eyesight seems to get worse each year, but, overall, I'm still pretty healthy. As I stand at the head of this table, a huge cake in front of me covered with eighty lit candles, and everyone wanting me to make a wish, I find myself wishing that my children, my children's children, and their children, know as good of a life as I have had.
             My son is here; seems like yesterday I was holding him for the first time. He was so small, born three weeks early, but what a head of hair he had. If he could only have that much now. He's 55 and has that "Kojak" look going on. He is also a grandfather, just like me. He has four children, who have had his seven grandchildren, and there are two more due to be born at any time.
             My twin daughters, born on my birthday 50 years ago, are also here. We're celebrating their birthday later this afternoon over at the marina club. What a surprise they were for my wife and I! To tell you the truth, I still cannot tell them apart. They are still very close after all these years together; they live in houses next to each other, co-founded and own a clothing company, and even married best friends. They have three children between them and grandchildren have not arrived yet.
             My wife of 56 years passed away a few years ago. She was perfect for me. We were not only husband and wife all those years, we were each other's best friends. I miss her so terribly at times, but I have my memories to relive. The first time I saw her at the county fair, the first house we lived in, the exterminating company we started together, and which has employed almost e...