It was a cold Christmas Eve night, many years ago, when a baby boy was born.
Today, Wednesday December 24, 2025 would have been my Dad’s 100th birthday. I was blessed to have him in my life until he was 91 3/4. He enjoyed many hobbies but one of his favorites was donning a red velvet suit and long white beard. He absolutely loved playing Santa during the holiday season.
For years, my Mom would hold a Holiday Open House for my Dad’s birthday. Many years it would be on Christmas Eve and other times it would be the Sunday before Christmas. One of my Mom’s friends found this invitation while she was sorting thru some papers, so she sent it to me in my Christmas card.
The party would start at 6:30 in the morning with sausage and gravy and then continue throughout the day. Many times, it wouldn’t get over until after 10 at night. My parents had a lot of friends and people would be coming and going all day.
Mom would prepare most of the food. Some of the guests would bring cookies or other snacks. Sometimes they would bring spirits. One year, Harvey Wallbangers were a very popular drink and we went thru a lot of orange juice.
There was always at least one type of cake. A lady my Mom worked with at the phone company would often make a Tunnel of Fudge cake for my Dad. I would usually make a cake in my Mom’s Christmas Tree pan.
There would also be a variety of dips. Shrimp dip was always very popular.
Deliciously Easy Shrimp Dip
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 spatula
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- sharp knife
- fork
- serving bowl
Ingredients
- 2 4 1/2 oz cans of shrimp
- 1 8 1/2 oz package of grated extra sharp cheddar cheese can use any grated cheese if you prefer
- 2 small onions chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- garlic salt
Instructions
- Add shrimp to mixing bowl
- Mash shrimp using a fork
- Add the rest of the ingredients and combine well.
- cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours
- Serve the dip with crackers, chips or vegetables
Notes
After my Mom passed away, I tried to keep the tradition going. I held two birthday open houses for my Dad. One for his 90th and one for his 91st.
I think this is the picture from his 90th birthday. I am the girl in the middle in the back. I am flanked by two of the girls I grew up with. They are sisters who lived down the road from us. Their family was very close to my family.
This one is from his 91st birthday. The plaid shirt must have been his favorite shirt because he wore it both years! Dad, the girls and I are joined by the girls’ mother in this picture. Missing from both pictures is the 3rd daughter, Angie. She and her family were living in Richmond Virginia and weren’t able to come home for Dad’s party.
I am not sure how the tradition started but Angie would always send my Dad underwear for his birthday. Some years they were quite skimpy! Not quite a Speedo but along those lines!
Santa Has Green Eyes Just like My Daddy
Family legend has it that I uttered those words when I got back into the car after seeing Santa when I was a young child. More about that visit and where his Santa house ended up can be found here: Santa Has Green Eyes Just Like My Daddy
Santa & my Mom
I have many more memories of the Holiday/Birthday open houses but before I start blubbering like a baby, I think I will close.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Robert “Bob” Jones 12/24/1925 – 9/27/2017
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