A Very Kidney Birthday

Just got back from a great weekend in Indianapolis, where the Hellmanites all gathered to celebrate my Dad's 65th birthday!

Amongst the highlights:

1. An outstanding cake developed by my sister Susie, in which a giant marzapan Rick Hellman, complete with banjo and his faithful samoyed Zeus, was featured as the centerpiece.

2. This cool hollowed-out watermelon fruit dish, once again by Susie.

3. Grandchildren up the yin-yang.

4. In order to really do things right, I arranged to deliver a happy birthday wish in the impressive form of Billy the Kidney--the human-sized kidney mascot from the National Kidney Foundation of Indiana. Thanks, NKF! You'll hear more from Billy the Kidney in next year's Holiday Greetings card...I started early for once.