For Me?

"For me?'

I'm not sure when he started it, I forgot to ask him, but based on this photo, taken when he still had hair, it was most likely in the blissful marital stage known as B.K. Before Kids. Photos. Home movies. My whole life, he told us to say, "For me?" As in, "You mean all this attention is for me? Bring it! I deserve it." "For me?" says delight and surprise and Ed McMahon at the door with big news: "Mazel tov, you've just won Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes!" But we didn't need Ed McMahon at our door. We already had our grand prize. We had Ben Starr, a sweet, funny daddy who kept us laughing daily.

For you. Always. 

Happy birthday, Daddy. Wherever you are, I hope it's wonderful.