Woo!

Woo Woo Ipa! Happy Birthday! Woo!
I am pretty darn lucky to have you for a grandpa. I love how you play ball with me - two Ipa!!! And you are really good at teaching me to stick my finger in the icing of a pretty cake. And I really like collecting sticks in your back yard. I love when you meet me at Old MacDonalds for lunch with Mimi after swimming. I know you aren't fond of dirty diapers and I really am working on going on the potty. Thank you for teaching me how to pee on the perfect bush. I am getting pretty good at it. You are the best grandpa a kid could ask for. I can't wait to sing happy birthday to you 60 times and eat a really big piece of your birthday cake. I promise to stick my fingers in it first. Love you!!!

Jake Francis Thomas Samuel Hanson

Happy 60th Big Buck!

Dear Dad,
Happy 60th Birthday. I just want to let you know how proud I am of you and what an inspiration you are as a father, grandfather, and business man. Every time I'm with you I learn new things and have an appreciation for your hard work. You are a role model for me whether you've shown me how to build a tree house or how to be a good dad (even if you've embarrassed me from time to time growing up.) One of the funniest memories I can share is when I was 8 years old and I rode with you to drop the babysitter off. On the ride home you asked me if I had a girl friend and I said, "Yes." You asked me who she was and where she lived so I told you (not realizing what was to come.) By the time I was finished giving you every detail, I realized we were driving up my girlfriends driveway. You proceeded to honk the horn furiously yelling "Erin!! Erin Hanley!! Sean is in the car!!!" In shock, I crawled under the glove compartment in disbelief and confusion. As her mom turned on the lights and opened the front door, you peeled out of her driveway. This was utterly amusing to you but not so much for me at the time. On Monday morning at school, Erin asked me if my dad and I had been by her house on Friday night. Our relationship didn't last much longer past that day. But overall, the lesson I learned is that this tradition will be carried on to my son Jake.
You have taught me so many skills whether it's "measuring twice and cutting once" or how to pick the perfect size Christmas tree for the house. (But maybe I should teach you how to tie down a Christmas tree with the right rope.) All in all, my life today wouldn't be as fulfilling as it is without you in it. You provide guidance, laughter, humor, support, knowledge, experiences and so much more to me and my family. Thank you for being the best dad to us. I hope your birthday is special and memorable. I love you!

Love Sean (Your Spring Buck)

If Wyatt Could Post

Hi Ipah, Happy Birthday! You may have 60 years on me but we already have a lot in common: I love a full belly, you love a full belly, I love taking naps, you like inspecting the inside your eye lids too! Thank you for coming to visit me on my birthday. I think I'm going to like getting to know you. Love, Wyatt.

Life is Good!

When I was 16 my mother forbade to go out with Tom because she thought he was "too fast" for me. I went out with him any way and for our first date (to the prom) 2 of his mom's wine glasses were in the glove compartment and there was a bottle of wine cooling on the backseat..... and 37 years, 3 kids and 3 grandchildren later he stills makes me feel like that young girl. He's hardworking, a great dad and provider and always makes me laugh (at least most of time when he hasn't crossed way over the line). On our honeymoon when there was a horrible thunderstorm, he told me Captain Ed was coming out of the ocean to get me! I remember another time at a neighborhood Christmas Party, I heard screams of laughter coming from the kitchen and it was Tom giving all the guys a play by play description of his vasectomy! Another funny story I remember was our adventure with a bat flying around the house that looked like it was the size of a 747.
Tom loves being home and puttering around the house. (I call him Mr Fixit Fox). He loves being around his children, interacting with them as adults and sharing accomplishments and milestones. He is so proud of all three of them and delights in their sense of humor and what close friends they are with each other. Our 3 grandsons are the icing on the cake and are making the good times keep rolling. In Ipah's eyes they are perfection! So HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART! In your words We are blessed! Life is good!

happy birthday "uncle tom"...what great memories to celebrate your 60th and with such beautiful tributes from your family!! yes, you have indeed made us all laugh and take notice for many years, (60 is many) but i think one of my funniest memories of you is the night i discovered a flat tire in front of palmie's ( after dessert and drinks with you and aunt terri...).. understandably, you were less than enthusiastic, but as terri and i aimed the flashlight, we looked on as you swiftly emptied the junk from my trunk...it was like a volcanic eruption that appeared coming up over your shoulder!! you managed to locate the buried tools and spare tire from down under it all and change my tire with amazing skill and speed...(probably record time, considering the 4-letter words)...you then called for the trash bags as you left the scene of mounded treasures from my trunk and went on inside to bed...i want you to know that every time i open my trunk now, i think of you...i actually fear you with the possibility of having to ask for your assistance again if another flat tire would become my misfortune. my trunk still remains pleasantly full of all my needed items, but totally organized...i promise.

have a wonderful birthday celebration tom, and thanks for all the happy,fun-filled memories...love to you, aunt carol

Happy Happy Birthday to you!

I can't wrap my head around the fact that we are celebrating your 60th birthday when it seems like just yesterday we celebrated your 50th! I feel lucky to have been around so long for some of the monumental celebrations. I think my first memory of you is when Sean and I first started dating and I smashed up the red Dodge Daytona before I had even met you. It was shortly there after that Sean arranged a "meeting" in Newport for lunch and when I extended my hand to you, you said, "It's nice to meet you Crash." Talk about mortifying!
It didn't take me a lot of time to realize what a fun-loving dad you were. I always loved watching your interaction with Sean, Erin and Tommy...and most of all, your relationship with Terri/mom. I remember the first few years and thinking, "I hope to have this same type of relationship some day" (minus the puppy dog look Andy describes below.)
I remember our graduation party where you had the entire rugby and hockey teams mesmorized by your strong arm control bringing a 50-70 lb hammer hatchet thing (I'm bad with tools) from straight in front of you down to your nose without faltering once. Not one other tough and brawny jock could do that. It may have had something to do with the 10 kegs of beer and vat of grain alcohol that inhibited their strength but I will lean towards the fact that you have controlled strength.
I think what I appreciate most about you is your ability to deliver a shock factor. Whether we are at lunch at Oceancliff outside and you are sticking your big toe through the middle of the table wiggling it for Mike Queenan as he was waiting on tables or the time you told our waitress who just graduated from Salve Regina a "bunch of fat asses" go to school there, your ability to add the shock factor to any mundane situation is phenomenal.
Our happiest memories and times with you are watching you play with Jake and/or Lucy. The close bond you've created with Jake is so special. And as his Ipa, he will forever think of you and say, "Woo!"

We love all our special times with you on family trips, listening to career advice, or nosy-walking through the neighborhood. You've taught me a lot over the years and I'm very lucky to have you for a father-in-law.
I wish you a very happy 60th birthday and look forward to celebrating another 40 birthdays with you. Maybe more considering the path Nonna is on...Happy Birthday!!! Love you!
Des

Happy Birthday, Father-in-Law!

My favorite thing about Tom is his incredible love for his family. You can tell whenever he's sipping a "Banquet Beer" with his sons, or carrying a shopping bag for Terri, or treating Erin and I to dinner, that he's at his absolute happiest when he's with his family. In the picture above, the first ever taken of him and Finn, it reminds me of those first few hours in the hospital when he couldn't wait to meet the newest member of his family, and share that love for family with a whole new generation.
In all of the years I've known Tom (10 now!) I've seen more funny things happen than I can possibly count or have time to tell here! One constant in the Hanson household is laughter. But one thing comes to mind, and that's Tom's hilarious impression of an I'm-not-sure-what. When Terri wants him to get out of the kitchen, or he decides it's time to tease Erin, he does this odd puppy-dog posture to emulate their "behavior". It's SO odd, it just makes me laugh every time. Erin and I now do it all the time around the house when we're joking with each other, and it's something only Tom can really pull off. Below is my demonstration of the look! If you've seen it before, you'll know what I'm talking about! And if you've never seen it, I'm sorry that you have to look at the picture below...
The happiest I've ever seen Tom was on Erin and I's wedding day. He just looked like he couldn't have been happier to be able to walk his daughter down the aisle. The second happiest I've seen him was on the day I asked him for his blessing to marry Erin. He was surprised, then had that big beaming smile that I'll never forget...his heart was brimming, and even though I was (and still am) a liberal Democrat, he couldn't have been happier! I'll never forget how he swore up and down that he wouldn't tell Terri until Erin told her after I'd propose, and apparently he couldn't wait for 5 minutes after Terri came home from work that night...he was so excited!
Tom and I have had many memorable moments over the years - but one that stands out was on June 23rd, 2005. It was the week of the wedding, and Tom and I went to a local golf club to play 9 holes of morning golf to shake the nerves and get out of the house...and Erin's hair. We had a fun day of golf, on a lovely morning, before the biggest day of my life, and Tom and I just laughed, putted, chipped and lost a few golf balls here and there. We were both so relaxed, and it felt like he genuinely enjoyed spending time with me. You could tell that he knew how much I loved his daughter, and that made me feel even more excited about the days ahead.
Three words to sum Tom up? Family, hard work, and family. (Well, I guess that's 4 words. But you know what I'm saying!)
If Tom were an inanimate object there's no question that he would be a Miller Lite.
My final Birthday message for Tom - I love him! He works so hard, and it's all for his family. I admire his work ethic, his dedication, and his incredible love for his friends and family. And after working so hard, there's nothing quite like a good "eyelid inspection" on the couch! (See below).
Happy Birthday, Tom! I was there for your 50th, and I can't believe it's already been 10 years. We wish we could join you for the party. But we'll be there in spirit, and can't wait for our next family vacation - together, drinking some Millers and talking about Wake Forest sports!
Love,
Andy

If Finn Could Post

So Finn can't type yet, but if he could he'd probably write something along these lines:

Happy Birthday Ipa! I love you! I love when you eat my piggies (and you put my toes in your mouth). I loved it when you and Mimi took care of me when my parents were in Belize and you brought me to the zoo and fed me my first sweet potato fries. Yum! I liked going into a swimming pool for the first time ever with you and sitting with you you. I hope that I didn't make the water on your lap warm. Did you know that we have a name in common? What are the chances?

I love you Ipa! I love spending time with you and giving you hugs and kisses. Happy birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Here are some silly questions about my dad:

1. My favorite thing about my dad: his sense of humor, his warmth and genuine curiosity about people, that he's always been the President of his children's "fan clubs" or the guy in the corner of the fight saying "you can do it!" and "go get 'em' tiger(lily)."

2. The funniest thing I've seen my dad do: Once there was an eccentric living in our hometown of Madison, Connecticut nicknamed the Peaceman. He would dress all in black and walk up to passerbys, flash them the peace sign and shout "Woo Woo!" My dad saw Peaceman walking near his car window one evening at a stoplight. Dad flashed Peaceman the peace symbol and greeted him with a hearty "Woo Woo!"

Peaceman locked eyes with my dad, as if he'd met his soul mate and started to sprint after the car, yelling "Woo Woo! Woo Woo! Woo Woooooooooo!" I imagine that he sounded like a wounded cow.

3. The happiest I've ever seen my dad: anytime he's with his family, especially when he's been waiting for my mom, the love of his life to come home from work so that he can fix her dinner. He always looks so relieved and happy to see her.



4. The most memorable moment I've had with my dad: my dad and I danced to the song, "Call me Al" by Paul Simon at my wedding. He has got some fantastic moves and can really play the air trumpet! Also, earlier in the day, it was wonderful to have him walk me down the aisle. He tried to get me to relax by making me laugh, he pointed to some of the guests' elaborate hats and asked me if they'd look good on him.

The biggest overall most memorable moment with my dad was introducing him to Finn Thomas Baker. Dad said, "I'm so proud of you." In delivering my baby, I had done something that billions of women had done across history and he still made me feel like bringing Finn into the world was a singular and extraordinary achievement.

5. List three nouns, adjectives, or verbs that describe your dad: big-hearted, focused, silly

6. If your dad was an inanimate object, what would it be? A well manicured lawn, a business card, or a dish cloth used to clean up the kitchen floor by foot.

7. If you could give your dad a nickname what would it be? Probably Senator Wellstone after the late-great liberal activist. Comrade Hanson, Obama Junior, Ted Kennedy 2.0...only kidding.

8. What's your first memory of your dad? This is a bit harder because he's been there my whole life, so it's all a fuzzy blur. But I remember when he'd come home from work when I was bout 4 or 5, he'd look so handsome in his suit and power tie! He'd scoop me up into his arms and do a silly dance. He smelled great: a combination of Binaca, Chapstick, and cologne. I loved when he walked through the door, he'd make my little day.

9: Do you have a poem or song to share with your dad? My name is Zoom and I live on the Moon and I came to Earth just to sing you this tune: Hey dad, It's your 60th birthday, Today!!!

10. Any other message to share? I love you, dad, Happy birthday!!!