A few years back, my brother put together a wonderful photo/memory book for my Dad on the marking of his 75th birthday. It was filled with marvelous tales (some tall, most true) of a life well lived, rich in the Irish way with friends and family, with love and laughter and blarney.
Yesterday's passing of Elizabeth Taylor -- arguably the brightest star ever to shine in the Hollywood universe -- put us all in mind of one of those stories, as told by one of Dad's childhood buddies, Jay Smith, who recalled a late-night discussion in 1958 during which Dad and friend Neil -- "ankle deep in their cups," they were -- helped define for him "The Meaning of Happiness"...
[Click image for larger view.]ADDING: I should be clear, when I say "the marking of [Dad's] 75th birthday," he was still around to celebrate with us! So he did get to read this and probably two dozen other stories (give or take) about how great he was.
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