Yesterday the birthday pals, Tom and Hazel celebrated their special day. And indeed, this one was particularly special, numerically speaking! Hazel turned 7 and Tom 70 which means he is, for this year TEN times older than she is!!
And turning seven is in itself a special day. There is quite a quite a wonderful article here, if you are interested. It isn't necessarily exactly seven. Kids develop differently. But it is right around seven that is a real milestone in one's life.
If you watch the Up series, you'll remember that the first episode began with these words:
Give me a child until he is seven, and I will give you the man.
I've looked it up and they have been variously attributed to Aristotle, Francis Xavier, and the Roman Catholic Jesuits.
"Six or seven or eight" is in Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. I'll quote the whole song because it is so moving.
You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!
There's a lovely version done by James Taylor here.
So, it is a big deal to be turning seven!
I thought I'd put up pictures of Tom and Hazel over these seven years. Most of them on or near their birthday.
The first one, the very first time Tom held her, one day after she came home from the hospital - February 9, 2014. If you don't know her story, you made read it here.
December 5, 2014
December 6, 2015
December 5, 2016
What a lovely set of photos! What a lovely family you have.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you so much!
DeleteI like this series of photos of your 7 year old and your 70 year old, and must tell you that the wreath in your header photo is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWonderful photos!! Happy birthday to both Tom and Hazel Nina. BTW, I see that Tom shares Rod's (and my) passion for plaid, flannel shirts. :) I think I own close to a dozen!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know anyone wore them outside of northern New England! ha!
DeleteI loved these pictures and although different in 2020, I love how Tom and you have been able to celebrate Hazel's big day.
ReplyDeleteWe've been so lucky to see her all the time, and the boys often in the summer, though not now - at least for a while. They are in school, and H doing remote.
DeleteHappy Birthday, Tom and Hazel! Wonderful pictures, each and every one. How sweet she is.
ReplyDeleteAnd lots of drive-by birthday parties here too, love how people make something good out of the situation.
Mary
Yes! People have been so creative! And honestly, I think Hazel was just as excited as she would have been at a party.
DeleteVery, very lovely, Nan. Thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteOh, I thank you!
DeleteOh Nan, this is so wonderful, and both the pictures and your last paragraph made me well up with joy. What a special little girl, and she and the special man in your life sharing that special birthday!
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind, as always. Thank you.
DeleteSuch fun to see the pictures of Tom and Hazel over the years. They seem to have such a close bond. You are so lucky to have her near by. Happy birthday Tom and Hazel. We also celebrated a birthday this weekend. My husbands' birthday was Saturday. Fun times.
ReplyDeleteHappy day to your husband! They are close. And boy, I do feel lucky!
DeleteHappy Birthday Tom & Hazel! Seven is a lovely age.
ReplyDeleteI've watched every single episode since the first Seven Up. A fascinating project.
Thank you! And I have, too. In fact, I bought the shows on DVD.
DeleteHazel is looking so grown-up! Something I've noticed about our seven-year-old granddaughter this year, too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great series of photos - thanks so much for lining them up for us! The article looks very promising, as well.
Thanks, Debbie. I didn't remember you have a granddaughter this age, too!
DeleteHappy Birthday to Tom and Hazel. They deserve a special celebration is this Covid year - and it looks like they got it - all those cars! Congratulations to them both.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It really was special. Hazel was really excited.
DeleteThis was the most wonderful post, Nan! Happy Birthday to Tom and Hazel! Love the pictures. A 'drive-by' party sounds perfect and she'll always remember it I suspect. Take care and wishing the birthday two much happiness and joy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, dear Kay.
DeleteWell done, Nan! I love the story this series of pictures tells. It's perfect for the season, so thanks so much for sharing your memories with the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to both Tom and Hazel. May all your wishes come true.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWhat a charming set of photos - thank you so much for sharing them with us!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos! I hope Tom and Hazel both enjoyed their very special day.
ReplyDeleteThey sure did!
DeleteI loved seeing your pictures of Hazel on her birthdays. I went back to look at Hazel's birth story. Miraculous, beautiful, amazing. May all of you always be "Overwhelmed with the love."
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to go to the link. Your three words describe it perfectly. Margaret told Hazel the story a couple weeks ago and it was all I could do to not burst out crying.
DeleteThis was truly a special birthday! A gift, really. You can see the bond between them in your photos. I know you must love seeing them together. I know it tugs at my heart when I see that soft look in my husband's eyes when he watches our young granddaughters, and he's a tough old PawPaw!
ReplyDeleteI've thought of that song from South Pacific so much over the years and even more so this year. It's one of the saddest songs ever and I still remember the anger in the face of the young man who sang it in the movie.
We're hoping to see our two little ones soon!
I don't remember the scene from SP, but I remember the feeling I had way back then about that situation, and the words.
DeleteSO happy you will be seeing them soon!!
Happy birthday to them both even if I'm late! I love this post! You have words from Oscar Hammerstein who is very dear to me, you would think I knew him! Also, the UP series...I first saw it on TV in England in the 1980s. The kids, adults now are almost same age as I am. Michael Apted did those documentaries, he has gone back to them every 7 years. Michael Apted is one of my very favorite directors!! He also did "Coal Miner's Daughter, which is a favorite of mine and also of my Father. Daddy was very much like Loretta Lynn, a real hillbilly and he said the director got it just right.
ReplyDeleteI have the series on DVD after watching all there are so far on TV. I care about those people, as does everyone who follows the show.
DeleteThat's neat what your father said.