Birthday Clubbing

This week was Ron's birthday. Mom, Calvin, and Audrey came up from St. George for spring break, so we were able to play with us! Calvin's passion in life these days is golf. And he has gotten Ron hooked as well. Ron won some golf clubs on ebay for his birthday, and expedited the shipping so he could get them by the time Calvin got up here. Even though it was freezing for most of the week, Ron and Calvin were determined to play a round together. Their tee time ended up being on what was probably the coldest, windiest day of the entire week.

My mom and I had a hard time trying to think up something to get Ron for a birthday present. I thought about us all pitching in and buying some locally-grown pork, but there wasn't a whole lot of excitement for that idea. Sometimes I forget that other people don't get quite as excited as I do about food. At about this point Calvin joined us for lunch. When we asked for his imput he got this 'no duh' look on his face and suggested that we buy him a golf club. So Calvin took me to a golf club store and headed straight for the putting section. Calvin hates the putter Ron had and apparently, a putter was not included with the other ebay clubs. So Calvin started at one end and went through dozens and dozens of putters. Some looked like they belonged on a space-ship, some just looked pretty goofy, and some were pretty wicked pricey. He worked his way down, having handed me a few clubs to hold as 'maybes' and then he got to the used clubs. Pretty much right away he grabbed one particular club and said that he thought we found the one we wanted. He sunk the first putt he tried with that particular club.

I know squat about golf clubs, but apparently the name Scotty Cameron means something to anyone that knows anything about golf. This particular Scotty Cameron club, being used, was cheaper than new. So much so that Calvin examined it minutely to try and find what was wrong with it. It was still a bit out of where I wanted to pay. I mean, I love Ron and all but I'm not sure I love him that much... golf-club wise. So Calvin and Allen both went in on it and we left the store triumphant.

Audrey helped out by wrapping it up in pretty gold paper, and we took it with us to Brick Oven. We hid it under the table, because it was pretty obvious what it was. My mom called it 'soap on a stick.' There's some story about them getting Gramps 'soap on a rope' once for his birthday or Christmas or something. Ask her about it if you want the whole story.

We ended up opening the presents before dinner because there was some other huge party at Brick Oven, and our pizza ended up taking a really long time. Needless to say, Ron loved it. After checking and re-checking to make sure it was really a Scotty Cameron putter, he pretty much cuddled the thing all night. Pretty much the way I would cuddle a really fun new kitchen toy, like a creme brulee torch or a Le Creuset, or something. Manager Paul came over and took the club for ten minutes or so to show it off. Good times. Paul was Ron's manager when he worked at Brick Oven years ago.

A wide section of fam-damily was there Brick Oven-ing out! Mom, Nana, Ron's In-laws and sister-in-law with nieces in tow, Mom, Audrey, Allen, Calvin, and myself. The party even included the singing of the traditional Brick Oven Birtday song. The company was fun, the food was divine, but I think the real success of the night was Scotty Putter.

Happy Birthday Ron!