Elliot and Jeremy's 21st

Normally I don't include too much of my personal life in the posts on Bytes because I have tried to avoid these pages becoming a replica of Facebook pages. Some personal items appear in the Monday Miscellany but today’s post is a major personal.

I have just returned home from a combined 21st birthday celebration for No 2 son Elliot and his BFF Jeremy. They have been best mates for many years. With their birthdays only 5 days apart, they decided on a shared celebration.  Only a select number of “oldies” were invited, it was mainly a young persons’ evening with the theme being Quentin Tarentino.

We had previously asked Elliot what he wanted for his 21st and he had answered that if it was okay by us, could he receive money. We obliged and stayed with the Tarentino theme, brother Thomas adding a snake underneath some of the piles of money. Those who know Kill Bill well enough will know the allusion.

Unfortunately for Elliot the bundles were paper, only the top note of each bundle was real.

The party was held at the home of Jeremy’s parents with Jeremy dressing as Lieutenant Aldo Raine and Elliot as Stabdartenfuhrer Hans Landa. There were various characters from a variety of films – a few Vincent Vega’s and Jules Winnfield’s, a bunch of Crazy 88’s, Go Go, Elle, O-Ren Ishi, assorted colours from Reservoir Dogs, The Bride, quite a few Mia Wallace's . . .

Some pics:

No 1 son Thomas with No 2 son Elliot

Jeremy's parents Gino and Wilma on the left

The birthday boys

Jess, maker of the cake . . .

A good time was had by all, and is probably still being held by the young 'uns as I write this.

One final note: as part of my speech I quoted General Douglas MacArthur's prayer for his son, reprinted below, as I had done at Thomas's 21st. I also commented that MacArthur could have done his son, his only child, a greater service by selecting a name for him other than Arthur.

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak; and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat and humble and gentle in victory. 

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee -- and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. 

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. 

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. 

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength. 

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain!"

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