12/16/2023
Picture it: A bleak late December day in Central Indiana, 1943. A soldier gets a leave from Fort Knox to come to Indianapolis for the birth of his first (and only) child.
December 27, 1943, 4:25PM: Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis. The Doctor comes out to tell the soldier that his son is an albino. Fortunately, when the baby opened his eyes, they were baby blue.
They named the baby William for his father and Robert for his paternal grandfather.
Six weeks later, the soldier boards a ship for Burma, where he will send little Bill a Teddy Bear for his first birthday but will not return to Indiana until after the Japanese surrender.
Well, little Billy celebrates 80 years of life on December 27, 2023
Please, if you are in the neighborhood, come by 3 Oak Street in Geneseo, NY to help Bill enter his 9th decade of life colorfully but tastefully. Any time between 12:30 and 8:00. There will be food and good conversation and a few exaggerations in storytelling about Bill’s ancient history. I encourage you to pass on this invitation to anyone Bill knows who is not on Facebook. Let him know if you plan to come so he can have some idea of how much food to prepare. He do not need a formal RSVP, so last minute changes of plans are fine.
No wrapped gifts. If you feel so inclined—and you should be--bring the gift of a donation to the Bill Cook Foundation. If necessary, you can park the Brinks truck in Bill’s driveway.
NB: This is NOT a surprise party, so tell one, tell all.
