38. All About Tim — Sort Of (Part One)
The year was 1957, the month was February. Mary O’Brien, mother of 5 delivered her 6th child, a boy named Timothy James. The first set of OBs: Francis, Mary Ellen, Eileen, Terrence, and Ann Marie, ranged in age from 13 to 4. Tim became the oldest of the next grouping of OBs: Tim, Kathy, Joey, Noreen, and Jimmy.
Time warp.
It’s fifty years later and Tim’s wife, Sheryll, surprised him with a 50th birthday party at one of his favorite eateries, Chuck’s Steakhouse. It was an open house, drop-in-when-you-can buffet event held in a platformed section of the massive bar — the focal piece of the restaurant.
While the business-as-usual patrons were enjoying pints of beer, games of pool and watching strategically placed televisions broadcasting the Patriots game — Tim’s family and friends were celebrating his birthday. The bash was an Irish-themed shindig with men in black top hats and women in glittery gold ones. There were strands of green Mardi Gras beads strung here and there, and End of the Rainbow gold pots that served as whimsical centerpieces and were filled with gold-wrapped chocolate coins for Good Luck.
And the surprise of all surprises was a very surprised birthday boy, surrounded by widely smiling family and friends because we got him good. My gift to Tim was a hardcover, coffee table book, What a Year It Was! 1957. The nostalgic book covered world news, human interest, sports, fashion, entertainment, science, medicine, and enough tongue-in-cheek stuff to keep you interested for hours; it also served as a journal for guests to write a little something in remembrance of the day — more on that later.
What a Year It Was! 1957
So, here we go!
Drive-in theaters were all the rage with more than 4,000 of them nationwide. Men and women interested in risqué, black-stocking and black jacket flicks, but who didn’t necessarily want the public to know about their darker proclivities, appreciated the anonymity of watching racier movies whilst perched in car seats rather than theater seats. Drive-in owners quickly seized on the mass appeal and went a bit more ‘mainstream’ in their movie showings. Theater audiences headed to the drive-in in droves (couldn’t resist the pun), and Saturday night dates behind fogged windshields became ‘the thing’ to do.
An Affair to Remember was the #1 drive-in movie in 1957. Rock Hudson was the top male star, Sophia Loren was the top female star and, Around The World in 80 Days won the Best Picture Academy Award. Hollywood lost actor Humphrey Bogart, and comedian Oliver Hardy, as well as co-founder of MGM, Louis B. Mayer. Future Hollywood film stars: Geena Davis, Melanie Griffith, Daniel-Day Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Rachel Ward were all born in the wonderful year of 1957.
In the world of television, ‘Living Color’ sets hit the market, making black and white ones obsolete in a matter of a few years. Families sat around their sets for the debut of Kermit the Frog on the Tonight Show, the premiere of Leave it to Beaver, and the rise of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand from its rank as a regional hit to a nationally televised sensation. Future television stars born that year were: Katie Couric, Fran Drescher, Paul Reiser, Ray Romano, Katey Sagal, and Vanna White.
A digression. When Tim’s sister Ann Marie White was expecting her third child, her two young sons wanted to name their sister, Snow or Vanna. Annie and Tiger chose the lovely name of Christine for their beautiful baby girl. I smile whenever I remember the boys’ disappointment that parents got to make such monumental decisions without their consultation.
I always wanted to write a book called, How Parents Chose Their Kid’s Name. Everyone has a story to tell about the Baby Name Game. I already shared how Tim and I named our kids and I’ve heard countless stories over the years — some fun — some frustrating — about friends’ ordeals in the baby naming process. And given I ended up with three nephews on Tim’s side all named Patrick, an author might find the stories repetitive, but still interesting. So, for the person out there who might want to dig deep on a fun project, go for it!
Okay, back to 1957. Elvis Presley topped the charts in music — no surprise there, Pat Boone and Fats Domino each had three #1 hits, and the Everly Brothers released Wake Up Little Susie and Bye Bye Love. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at a church garden party, and Berry Gordy, Jr. started Motown Records. Future recording artists born in 1957: Gloria Estefan, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Donny Osmond, and Eddie Van Halen.
Over in the world of books, Dr. Seuss got a publishing deal — after receiving countless rejections — for The Cat In The Hat and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Within days of the books’ releases, they became a hit with adults and children alike. And miles away from the rhyming sensations of tall cats and green outcasts, Jack Kerouac’s ‘stream of consciousness’ novel, On The Road, became the book about the Beat Generation, and Allen Ginsberg’s poem, Howl, was seized by U.S. customs officials on grounds of obscenity.
In other news: Dwight David Eisenhower was president, Teamster official, Jimmy Hoffa, was arrested on bribery charges, the ‘Little Rock Nine’ enrolled in Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, Cuban rebel leader, Fidel Castro was interviewed on a CBS documentary, Princess Caroline of Monaco and Caroline Kennedy were born, Elvis joined the Army, and Martin and Lewis broke up their comedy team.
Those are a few of the many fascinating tidbits found in the book I gave Tim, but it’s the things attendees of his 50th birthday bash wrote inside the front and back covers that are the most important things in that book.
Lovely thoughts.
May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future ~ Francis O’Brien
Happy half-century ~ Terrence and Katie O’Brien
Welcome to the Club. It’s not that bad! ~ Linda and John Bushee
I hope you have another 50 ~ Uncle Bobby McTigue
Happy Birthday, 50 more to go ~ Mary Ellen and Don Thorpe
Enjoy your 50th. Remember it’s just a number ~ Debbie and Phil Gagnon
Wishing you the best and 50 more to go ~ Rose and Peter Dolan
May God bless you and keep you always ~ Eileen Stupik
You make 50 look great ~ Suzanne Magaziner
Hey Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you even though you’re old ~ Jessica O’Brien
I love you, Dad ~ Hannah O’Brien
Let’s spend some time on the last two dedications. During the festivities, Tim O’Brien’s daughters (Hannah = H, Jessica = J), delivered the following speech. As they read their lines, they handed Tim cue cards so he could join in on the fun (T = Tim). I suggest you read Tim’s words using an Eeyore voice, it’s funny as shit
Papa Platitude
J: We would like to take a couple minutes to thank you all for coming to celebrate this auspicious occasion and to say a few words about our father.
Both girls: Our father, or as we refer to him, Papa Platitude, is the King of Clichés.
H: Tim O’Brien’s parenting style is basically a never-ending, verbal stream of platitudes and clichés.
J: Yup, he thinks any situation known to man or beast can be easily handled by a perfectly placed platitude.
H: No matter what happens, Papa Platitude has a little gem of wisdom to share. Like, if you’re feeling down or things haven’t gone your way, Papa Platitude might offer these inspirational words.
T: Hannah, every cloud has a silver lining.
H: Or maybe this:
T: Don’t worry, Hannah, tomorrow’s another day.
J: And if you screwed up or fell short of your goal, Papa Platitude might offer this little ditty:
T: Jessica, there’s no use crying over spilled milk.
J: Or maybe this:
T: Jessica, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.
H: Yes, the solution to every life lesson can be found in Papa Platitude’s Book of Wisdom.
J: I know, like the time I was thinking I was All That and Papa Platitude brought me down a peg or two with…
T: You know Jessica, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
H: Or like the time I only wanted to apply to Saint Mike’s and Papa Platitude imparted this pearl of wisdom:
T: Hannah, don’t put all your eggs into one basket.
J: I got that advice once or twice, and this one:
T: Take the high road, Jessica, there’s a lot less traffic on it.
H: Uh huh, I heard that one on several occasions, and this one:
T: Seems as though you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, Hannah.
Both: And this one:
T: Looks like you bit off more than you could chew.
Both: And this one:
T: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Both: And this one:
T: Girls, don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Both: And this one:
T. Girls, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
H: Hey, Jessie, did you ever get this one?
T: Don’t go putting the cart before the horse.
J. Yup. And I got this one, too:
T: That’s as useless as tits on a bull.
J: What’s up with him and farm equipment and farm animals?
H: I don’t know, but I do know this — I am so happy to be here to celebrate this day because…
T: You’ll only ever have one father.
Both: And this one:
T: You’ll be sorry when I’m gone.
J: I’m glad to be here, Dad. By the way, Hannah, do you have a favorite platitude?
H: Yeah. You can’t unscramble an egg.
J: I thought the cliché was, you can’t unring a bell.
H: Whatever.
J: Yeah, whatever.
Both: Daddy, there’s no platitude or cliché about this:
We love you.
Happy Birthday!
The girls’ performance brought laughter to the room, and there were times I thought Tim would need to be resuscitated from his complete enjoyment of that schtick. Oh, and more than a few bar patrons left the Patriots game and joined in on the fun — always a good thing!