My birthday was so close after New Years, that my Dad always said the first thing I did to spite him was to be born on the fifth. Dr. Wilkinson had told him, that he would have a little tax deduction. I as always came along in my own sweet time.
Some of the best memories of birthdays growing up included getting to go to the American Legion, that was at that time on West Third. When you went in the door, the bar was on the left hand side and the supper club was on the right.
The birthday kiddo always got to bring one friend. So my cousin Joy was always there with us. First of all the menu…oh man…so many good things, but it seems like shrimp was always what I got. The best part though, was at the end of the meal Irene would bring you a little birthday cake! Oh man that was awesome. (Irene Lewis worked there a long time, she was a neighbor and her and Dick were close friends of my folks). I hated when that building burned down in the 70s. The same old feel and supper club didn’t really follow it, at its new home in the old skating rink above Tri State Supply.
When we got a little bigger, Mom would take us and two friends each, to Evans Plunge! That was so fun. It always involved someone else driving too and the party was on!
Since my brother and I were both born so close together, this was a joint party. Loved when you would get close to Hot Springs, you would cross the old metal bridge and then wind your way into town. When you finally got to the pool, it was usually fogged over. That made it even more fun, then swinging on the rope, trying the rings and getting up the courage to go face first down the big slide. It took awhile to get up the nerve but finally, so you weren’t called the biggest chicken in the world…you took the double dog dare and actually slid down it. Then you hurried back to the line to do it again!