"Birthday"

 Yesterday, my nephew Brandon turned 50 years old. I received a few photo reminders but really I cannot believe it. I was a Junior in High School when Brandon was born. My brother Tom, his Dad, and my classmate and friend Robin, his Mother, were young and not quite ready for the adult world. But a baby was created, and that young man has been in my life for most of those 50 years,.

Happy Birthday Brandon!!

Now let us look at some photos. Of course, my digital hoard has many of Brandon through the years. Early photos are from family album scans and then later photos are digital. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

It was May 14 1975 that Brandon turned one, and I was getting ready for my graduation, and his mom Robin too, from Middlebury Union High School in June 1975. Here is Brandon with his first Birthday cake.

Here is Brandon with his favorite Uncle, me. I had hair then and Brandon was just starting to grow his...

Of course his other favorite Uncle was my brother John. We use to like to throw Brandon back and forth. That is cousin Lori who spent that summer in Vermont. We may have hit his head a few times.

No, I was not the one to give him his first beer. That was probably my Dad.

Brandon's first Christmas, not even one yet. You can see me peaking over the Mixed Nuts can, with my niece Lori. Tom wore #44 playing football.

Here is Brandon being held by his Dad and next to his Mom, and of course his favorite Uncle..

When Brandon got older, he and his younger brother Josh would visit us in Florida. One year, I took them on a great trip to Daytona Beach. We saw Gators and other large monsters.

And then we spent the day at the beach and we did some skee-ball at the Daytona Beach boardwalk.

Back in Middlebury Vermont, Brandon enjoys a swing ride with his brother Josh and cousin Lori who was visiting from Hawaii.

Not everyone gets to meet their great-grandparents. Here is Brandon and Josh with Albia and Lois Provoncha in Bristol. Grandma must have thought it was windy in the trailer.

Spending times with the Provoncha Grandparents, Stella and Harold, was also on the agenda.

Mom and Dad took them to Washington DC where they got their pictures taken in front of most of the important monuments. This is the Lincoln Memorial.

They also got to see their Uncle BJ play baseball in Florida. Here we are in Palm Bay next to my new Camaro. I think I pitched a no-hitter that day...no wait, I batted a no-hitter.

I even spent time with Brandon and Josh in Vermont. Here we are at the alpine slides.

A lot of the pictures I have are with Brandon spending time with Josh. Here, it looks like Josh is getting ready to burp up that Mountain Dew as Brandon throws the ball for the dog. Stay!

Even in Florida, cousins would see each other. Here Brandon, after a 3 foot increase in height, with his cousins Jared and Israel. I think they are at Fort Christmas.

Nub Duclos and my dad Harold with an ever growing Brandon. Must be at the American Legion in Middlebury. I should mention Nub and Dad were not tall people.

Brandon playing horseshoes with his cousin Israel.

As kids, I took this picture of Josh and Brandon swimming at Wickham Park in Melbourne Florida.

Later, the theme of water continued, with me and Brandon taking a much cooler dip in Lake Champlain. We were near Crown Point while using Tom's boat.

More water, I caught this shot of Brandon as we were going out for some ocean fishing.

Same fishing trip, crew member, Steve Mielke, and Brandon as we headed back in. We had a good haul of fish on that trip.

A little more water, this time a cruise to the Bahamas. That is Josh, Brandon and me. I was having Brandon hold my drink so I could take the next photo.

Bahamas cruise, Josh, Grandma Stella, Brandon and Aunt Ellie. That was a good time.

Brandon relaxing on the private island...

Brandon lives near me now in Melbourne. Cousin Jim had a party at his house in Palm Bay. Brandon, cousin Jim, and cousin Ellie, all looking like they were ready for another BJ drink. I brought a large supply of Mai Tais.

Cousin Patti, my niece Lori, and nephew Brandon at his old apartment in Melbourne. We were heading to the Melbourne Christmas Light Parade.

Brandon with his dad Tom at Mr. Ups in Middlebury.

Brandon and his girlfriend Debbie, visiting me at Lou's Blues. Sorry Debbie, the cap hid your lovely eyes.

Here is Debbie at Thanksgiving 2020 with her daughter and two Grandchildren.

Brandon with the grandkids, as the sun slowly sinks into the West on the Indian River.

I have this photo of the next 50 years in Brandon's life. 

Be comfortable and I hope you many more Happy Birthdays.

About the title of my post.

"Birthday" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, mainly by McCartney, it is the opening track on the third side of the LP  Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr performed it for Starr's 70th birthday at Radio City Music Hall on 7 July 2010.