Alek's 50th Birthday

So it seems like only yesterday that I had my 40th birthday party ... but dang, "time waits for no man", so I just hit the big 5-0! I'm not a big birthday person and didn't want a big hoopla ... so having a small gathering with several couples is just what the "old man" ordered. In addition to great company, there was great drink, food, and cake - I should have taken more pictures.

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Master Bartender Dave made Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry Margarita's - YUMMM!

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He brought a bunch of Colorado Cherry Company juices to add to his awesome Marg's

Wendy made a beautiful Red, White, and Blue cake - perfect for Bastille Day

I even got a kiss on my 50th - WOOT! ;-)

Does that look yummy or what?!? It was awesome!!!
The "Hookah" was a joke gift .. from my Mom! ;-)

My son Dirk gave me some AARP approved "age-50" golf balls ... from Goodwill ... at half-off!
These pictures taken a few days after my 50th ... I'm working on the grey-beard ... LOL

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Alek grey beard 50th birthday golf balls

On my 40th birthday, my family surprised me by coming into town and we climbed Longs Peak. Dirk said lets climb a 14'er together - quite surprising since he isn't into hiking - but a cool gift.

4 days later, we headed up Mount Bierstadt - weather was a bit dicey ...

alek 50th birthday party mount bierstadt top

Despite some hail, we all made it to the top

alek 50th birthday party mount bierstadt summit

This was Dirk's first 14'er (my fifteenth) ... we're already talking about doing another

alek 50th birthday party mount bierstadt summit 2

A great way to celebrate turning 50 ... and hopefully I'll still be climbing 14'ers when I'm 60!

A week later, a sure sign of "getting old" showed up in the mail - an invitation to join AARP! ;-)

So for my "mid-life crisis", I thought it might be fun to grow a beard - this is after 10 days

A month later, I mis-trimmed the mustache, so I had to shave that off and start over.
While there might be a resemblance to Abraham Lincoln, Wendy says I look like Pappa Smurf! ;-)

50 year old Alek (aka Jabbedaih the Amish Blacksmith!) giving Kyle a military haircut! ;-)

Mustache is starting to grow back in a week later

Looking more respectable after trimming the beard with a #1 cutter

Alek interviewing for the Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man"

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A year and half later, Alek's wonderful wife Wendy had a great 50th birthday at the Tennessee Pass Yurts