Once upon a time there was a nice young man who grew up in a family of all brothers except for one sister. Ironically, when he became a father he raised a family of all daughters except for one son. But what fun he had with that one son! Right away they started a unique birthday tradition. Because the son was born on one of Utah's flag-flying holidays--every year on July 24 Tommy and His Dad had their picture taken together with a flag.
Another thing they liked to do together was play basketball.
At first it was just with a small plastic indoor hoop and ball. But later the father felt it was necessary to have a real court with a real hoop and a real basketball. So with the help of a lot of neighbors and a lot of trips with the wheelbarrow full of cement, a concrete court was poured in the backyard.
More excitement followed a few years later when the father and son were able to go to the Jazz basketball game where John Stockton set the NBA Assists record. The basketball-loving boy kept notebooks full of newspaper clippings and statistics and managed to make many school reports be about the Jazz. However, one of Tom's and his Dad's favorite basketball memories happened one Christmas afternoon when they were bored, went to an after-Christmas sale and bought a fisher Price basketball hoop. After all, by then they practically had a half court for playing in Tom's basement bedroom!
Tom also had a mother, but she wasn't nearly as fun.
How fun are good meals and clean clothes compared to playing basketball? The mother did come in handy when it was time to celebrate holidays, though--especially birthdays. She knew how to buy and wrap presents. She knew how to make favorite meals for the birthday person. And she knew how to make birthday banners and signs. One year she decided to write a "Top Ten" list for each person in the family on their birthday. Once upon a time, when Tom turned 12 years old, this was his list:
Another thing they liked to do together was play basketball.
At first it was just with a small plastic indoor hoop and ball. But later the father felt it was necessary to have a real court with a real hoop and a real basketball. So with the help of a lot of neighbors and a lot of trips with the wheelbarrow full of cement, a concrete court was poured in the backyard.
More excitement followed a few years later when the father and son were able to go to the Jazz basketball game where John Stockton set the NBA Assists record. The basketball-loving boy kept notebooks full of newspaper clippings and statistics and managed to make many school reports be about the Jazz. However, one of Tom's and his Dad's favorite basketball memories happened one Christmas afternoon when they were bored, went to an after-Christmas sale and bought a fisher Price basketball hoop. After all, by then they practically had a half court for playing in Tom's basement bedroom!
Tom also had a mother, but she wasn't nearly as fun.
How fun are good meals and clean clothes compared to playing basketball? The mother did come in handy when it was time to celebrate holidays, though--especially birthdays. She knew how to buy and wrap presents. She knew how to make favorite meals for the birthday person. And she knew how to make birthday banners and signs. One year she decided to write a "Top Ten" list for each person in the family on their birthday. Once upon a time, when Tom turned 12 years old, this was his list:
Happy Birthday to:
10. Orchard 8th Ward's newest deacon
9. Dad's favorite basketball playing partner
8. Mom's best kitchen cleaning helper
7. Grandma Hawkes' favorite grandson to share a birthday with
6. Grandpa Chambers' favorite grandson to give "take apart" gadgets
5. Emily's favorite brother to take to Buzz games and Bryant's barbershop
4. Shelly's most stylin' brother (who never hogs the bathroom)
3. Betsy's favorite brother to tease and argue with
2. Hayley's favorite brother to walk to school with . . . and bug!
1. The number one boy in our family!
Not long after this list was written the number one boy grew up and got job at Dicks' Market just like his Dad did back in the day. Now he is the same age his Dad was when he was born! . . . and just like him, he has a nice wife and a lovely little family and the same plan to live happily ever after!
Happy Birthday Uncle Tom!
Love, your Mom
(also known as Grandma)
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