Thank you Mary Thibault Akiyama for emailing me this photo of your backyard birthday party in 1962 on Heroy near Shadle Center.

Mary posted it on Facebook after reading my Monday Boomer U story about celebrating 60th birthdays and how fondly most boomers remember their childhood backyard birthday parties.

What I love about this photo:

1) All of us are wearing dresses to a backyard party. Some look like our First Communion dresses.

2) Kim Lynch and her sister, Megan, are in the front row. Megan died in 1995 of breast cancer at age 38. I know her parents  -- and siblings -- will be happy to see this photo of Megan.

3) It reminds all of us that one of the best gifts you can give someone in grief is sending a photo of their deceased loved one that they likely don't have.

Thanks Mary!

(Photo courtesy of Mary Thibault Akiyama)

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