Celebrating My Dad’s 90th Birthday
Let’s start with a picture of Dad and me at the party Sunday, July 11th. I want you to see what an incredible Dad is. How many fathers look that dapper and alive at age 90!
My Dad turned 90 on July 6th, 2010. As I am his namesake, I’m the 3rd and he is the 2nd – James Vivien Crum, II. Dad began as a small business entrepreneur when he was in his early 30’s. I was born when he was 35 and at that point, Dad was already in Citrus Harvesting and owned a small citrus grove in the central area of Florida.
Most of what he did was based around agriculture – he farmed, was in citrus, and organized citrus (oranges and grapefruit) harvesting. He grew up in Florida as did I. Other than when Dad was in the service during World War II, he has lived his entire life in Florida (in fact, I’m 5th generation Floridian on one side of my family and 6th generation on the other.)
THE PARTY
My Dad’s girlfriend, Pat, and I hosted a cocktail party. Dad loves people and he loves a great party so we did this for his celebration. 160 of his friends joined with him. There was an open bar, Hor d-oeuvres, and musical entertainment. His club was decorated in blue and orange because Dad is a Florida Gator. And, we dressed to carry out that theme.
Dad spoke about his life and what matters to him. The party, which lasted over four hours, was both a celebration and a tribute to my father’s outstanding life and all that he has accomplished and given to others. After we cut the cake, I invited people to share stories about my Dad and passed the microphone.
It was a time of connecting, celebrating, and communicating how much everyone in the room loves my Dad. He is the original connector – he naturally connects with anyone he meets.
And, he is known by everyone as being a true Southern Gentleman.
Triumph over Parkinson’s
Dad has had Parkinson’s for over twelve years and yet because of his mindset and strong will, he is still walking around, setting new goals, organizing new efforts, and is active in both Florida Kiwanis and Florida Elks.
He is still organizing people and giving his sage advice. Dad is still walking around and determined to continue his life by moving forward. He is an optimist by nature and has a strong will that aids him in dealing with his disease. Dad is a fighter who doesn’t give up.
Community Giver
He has always cared about others, whether he was doing business with them, organizing them on a team to help a community cause, or directly helping them as part of his natural desire to make others’ lives better. He is a giver at heart.
In 1964 he was Governor of Florida Kiwanis. By the age of 14, I had been to five International Kiwanis Conventions. He lived and breathed Florida Kiwanis when I was growing up. He actually started the Kiwanis Club of which he is still a member then a couple of years ago was the 50th President so that he was both the 1st and 50th President of the Club he founded.
Dad’s an amazing man. He has spent his adult life as a person who has given back to his community. He has been involved in his church, Kiwanis, and Elks.
In Kiwanis he has been on the international level heading up committees and being involved with helping to shape the philanthropic areas of Kiwanis through his extensive fund raising actions.
He has also been active in the Florida Elks and was just named Elk of the Year in his local club for the second time.
Florida Gator Fan
Dad is a total Florida Gator Fan. He has had tickets in the touchdown terrace for a couple of decades, if not more. And, now you see why Dad wore the orange vest and tie –and I had on the blue tie and cummerbund.
Although going to the game is a bit much for Dad these days, he still gets together with his friends and roots for the Gators every game. During football season, his life revolves around the Florida Gator games.
He knows the players, the scores – and has clear opinions about who will win and why.
Now take a look at his cake. Cool, huh! I’ve had the same lady create this cake for several of his recent birthdays. We saved the gator head and he took it home to enjoy this week.
I wanted to share a few thoughts about my Dad at this important milestone of his turning 90. He is the most important person to me and part of getting to know my readers and clients is sharing my life with you.
I hope you have as great of a relationship with your parents as I have with my Dad. Mom passed away 24 years ago.
Take time today to express how you feel about your parents to them. Let them know what you appreciate about them. Give them a hug. Tell them you love them. Express your care and concern to them. And, if there are things that are unresolved, talk with them and discuss those with them.
Celebrate the opportunity to still connect with them and consciously communicate how you feel and what is important.
Live Fully!
Your Small Business Coach,
J V Crum, III, M.B.A., J.D., M.S. Psy
Millionaire Coach and Millionaire Mentor
Founder, Conscious Millionaire Institute, LLC
Director, Conscious World Foundation, Inc
Very nice to see this side of you. Your Dad sounds like an amazing man!
Congrats to your dad. May you follow in his longevity footsteps!
Your Dad is indeed an inspiring person. I feel priveleged to know him and you.
Awesome. Way to go. It looks like you guys had a lot of fun.
JV,
What a great article! You really captured the spirit and heart of who Jim Crum is. Congratuations to him for a fabulous 90 years and to you for planning and pulling off such a wonderful event. Our love goes out to both of you!
Gene (Jim Crum’s nephew) & Beth Ramage