Can't believe my best friend is now 60 years old. I never knew what 60 would look like, but it looks good to me! Gail
We had a party with a few close friends and I couldn't resist putting out a few old pictures.
We played "guess that tune" with songs from the 60's and 70's, and we found out that Fenn doesn't know music (score "0"), but Fred is a Funk 49/James Gang fan and used to sing Cat Stevens.
We also took a quiz about Michael, and very few people guessed the wrong answer in each category. It's listed below...so give it a try and find the one false answer in each category:
A. During high school, Michael participated in:
- Football
- Golf team
- Chess Club
- College ROTC maneuvers
B. Michael met Gail when he was a high school junior :
- She was the 2nd girl he’d ever dated
- Their first date was the movie “The Dirty Dozen”
- He took her to his senior prom
- He took her see one of her favorites in concert—Jimi Hendrix
C. Michael:
- Was born in Colorado
- Lived in these states: CO, NE, KS, KY, GA, VA, NJ, OK, SC
- Lived in Germany and Hungary
D. During his military career, he:
- Helped brief Colin Powel
- Attended church with Gen.“Stormin Norman” Swartzkauf
- Commanded a company that defended a section of the border from Communist East Germany
- Appeared on NBC nightly news
- Served in Desert Storm
- Was a commissioned officer
- Was an NCO (non-commissioned officer)
- Achieved the rank of LTC
E. Michael Enjoys:
- Putting together tank models
- Eating out
- Running
- Planning trips in Eastern Europe
- Buying new technology and shoes
F. Michael:
- Swam in the Euphrates River
- Surfed off Bolinas beach in CA
- Rafted down the Colorado River
- Canoed on the Buffalo River
- Snorkeled in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii
- Was hit by a flying sting ray in the Caribbean Sea
- Studied ships in San Diego Ship Yards
G. A Few of Michael’s entertainment favorites:
- Chariots of Fire
- Braveheart
- Sabrina
- The Hornblower series
- Casablanca
- TV series Monk
H. Michael has visited these countries:
Turkey, Bulgaria, Mexico, Peru, Hungary, Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Austria,
Romania, Puerto Rico, St. Croix (Virgin Islands), Luxembourg, France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland,
Russia, Ukraine, Poland, England, Holland, Sweden, Croatia, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Ireland,
The Azores, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina
2 xtra points = those visited on a mission trip
I. Michael has ridden on:
- Tanks
- Helicopters
- Jeeps
- small planes
- Armored personal carriers
- A small plane with no window and a pilot who only spoke Spanish
- A Hummer (or “humvee” as they say in the Army)
2 xtra points = things he’s driven
J. Michael’s Ministry Experiences:
- Managed 90 year old ladies who sewed panties for immigrants
- Found jobs for college and seminary grads
- Cleaned ‘squatty potties’ in Europe
- Slept on the floor of an inner city church
- Taught Bible studies to soldiers
- Preached in Budapest
Answers: A. 1; B. 2, it was actually "The Graduate"; C. 1; D. 5; E. 4, he always wants to go to Germany, but Gail drags him to Eastern Europe and he always enjoys it; F. 2; G. 2--he's never seen it; H. Switzerland, mission trips to the first 6 listed and went through the last 6 listed but didn't actually tour them; I. 7, driven 1-4, the plane without a window was when he and Gail caught a hop to Puerto Rico and then flew on this small plane to St. Croix; J. 6, when in Ft. Collins, he managed an outreach center where (among other things) older ladies sewed panties for immigrants because they are an item you can't give used.
Nicole took this picture, so she's not in it.
Then on Sunday (his actual birthday) Michael wanted a burger and a home town beer on tap (a Fat Tire from Ft. Collins, CO) so we went to Foster's Grill after church with the family. Scout was excited to open the t-shirt that Nicole ordered that has each of the 6 grandchildren's pictures on the front and "Poppy 60" on the back. Michael loved it.
The girls posed for this one.
Scout loves her poppy.
Mark and Nicole.
