By the time you read this, I will be fifty years old …
When you’re a kid fifty seems so far away. Then one day your age turns from 49 to 50 and it’s a big reality check! Life goes by way faster than you imagined and there’s a good chance that life didn’t turn out the way you thought it would. This could be a bad thing or a good thing. I lucked out! My life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would, it turned out way better than I could have possibly imagined!
When I started my Tiki With Ray blog back in February of 2016, I had no idea what would happen. For all I knew, I’d write a couple blog posts, call it quits and move on to something else. That didn’t happen, I kept going and made this Tiki With Ray thing my life! I went from blogging, to starting a YouTube show, to doing live shows in front of an audience. I have driven across the country (several times) visiting tiki bars and meeting new people.
My buddy Jason Craig (We Shall Tiki) wanted to do something special for my 50th birthday. So, he decided to put on a little get together at Devil’s Reef for me. Well, I thought it was going to be just a couple friends, it wasn’t.
When I walked inside Devil’s Reef I was greeted by a loud HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Almost the entire bar was filled with tiki friends. I couldn’t believe how many people showed up!
Then someone mentioned that there were more people upstairs, I walked up to the second floor and there were even more friends! I couldn’t believe it!
On one table, Jason set up a coffee station with cups and creamers ready to go! I love alcohol, but I’m addicted to coffee! At the far end of the room was a table set up just for me. There was a bunch of gifts, my favorite cake (Pepperidge Farms 3 Layer Coconut Cake)
And not one but two tiki drinks waiting with my name on them! They were the Honey Glazed Nut Punch and the DJumbo Grog, both made with BG Reynolds Circus Peanut syrup, which I love. These are my favorite tiki drinks!
It was so great to see everyone and I’m very happy to call all you my friends. You are all my Ohana! This was the best birthday party I ever had, thank you Jason and thank you all for coming out!
When I was a kid, I would have never imagined celebrating my 50th birthday like this!
Starting Tiki With Ray started a new chapter in my life and it took me on an incredible journey that I could have never imagined.
I decided to start my blog while I was visiting The Shameful Tiki Room up in Canada. I was sitting at the bar alone. Now I know everyone at the tiki bar and they know me. Thank you everyone for making these the best years of my life!
Jason didn’t do the setup – there were several hands who did that while he was keeping you occupied. BUT Jason procured all the things and really did a lot of legwork to make sure his good buddy had a great and special 50th! We love you, Ray and we’re glad we could be there to help make it happen and to celebrate!
I made sure to tell Ray about the “Don’t Tell Ray Volunteers Brigade”! Thank you Tess, and all the others for the help getting things set up for a Great Day for Ray.
Happy Happy Birthday! Your YouTube channel got me back into to Tiki. And I thank you very much for that. I had kinda got out of Tiki when The Bahooka closed its doors. I’m very glad I discovered you last year. Mahalo.
Thank you very much for the kind words Jeremy!