This Week’s Caricature Adventure: Gene Turns 99!

(Yes… Ninety-Nine. And yes… he’s cooler than all of us.)

Last night I had the absolute honor of drawing caricatures at Mr. Gene’s 99th birthday party at the Elks Lodge in Foley, AL — and let me tell you, this man is a whole event all by himself.

Gene is a WWII veteran, a fighter pilot, and a turret gunner…

…and also a line dancer.

Yep. After his wife passed away, he told himself he needed something to keep him busy — so a few years ago, he decided to learn line dancing. And he didn’t just learn… he thrived. His teacher was there, proudly watching him dance the night away while a live band played. Half the guests were line dancers themselves, boots scootin’ in his honor.

And here’s the turning point for me:

While I was drawing him, I kept thinking,

“He looks like he’s in his 70s… MAYBE his early 80s.”

And I’m a professional face-reader — literally.

There’s something about people who live well — no smoking, no drinking, no nonsense — it shows.

Gene did something right.

You could even say he has… good Genes.

(Yes. I went there. 😵😂)

And then — the part that completely melted me — he found out my teenage son is obsessed with WWII history. So Gene sent him special fighter-plane trading cards, and a magazine with an article he knew my son would love. We’re hoping to get the two of them together soon so my boy can hear his stories firsthand.

It was one of my favorite events of the year.

Heart, history, humor, music… and a room full of people celebrating a man who truly earned every minute.

If you’re planning a milestone birthday, holiday party, or special event this December, I do still have a few dates open. Caricatures bring people together in the best way.

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