[OT] Professor Tolkien's eleventy-first birthday

[Greybar]

Today would be Professor Tolkien's eleventy-first birthday.
(Born 3rd January 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa)

Happy Birthday and Thank You!

From the authorized Biography

Arthur Tolkien wrote:

My dear Mother,
I have good news for you this week. Mabel gave me a beautiful little son last night (3 January). It was rather before time, but the baby is strong and well and Mabel has come through wonderfully. The baby is (of course) lovely. It has beautiful hands and ears (very long fingers) very light hair, 'Tolkien' eyes and very distinctly a 'Suffield' mouth. ...
The boy's first name will be 'John' after its grandfather, probably John Ronald Reuel altogether. Mab wants to call it Ronald and I want to keep up John and Reuel ...

John

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I'll drink to that!

 

[d20Dwarf]

Yes, we've been planning a gathering for some time now. We're going to eat steaks then coming back for a Tolkein-inspired romp through Middle Earth.

Oops! It looks like Bard failed to kill Smaug with Black Arrow, and now Smaug has retreated to Lonely Mountain and is vowing revenge on Lake Town. The boys will pick up the roles of Gandalf, Bilbo, Thorin, and Bard (and maybe a penitent Thranduil if a 5th shows up) and make their way into Lonely Mountain to face Smaug in a final showdown.

Should be fun.

 

[Eridanis]

The 3rd is also my Dad's birthday. Didn't know the Tolkein connection until just yesterday; it sure explains much about my Dad (who, along with my Mom, encouraged me to read fantasy and science fiction from a young age).

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I'm guesting at randomling's house tonight, and we celebrated Tolkien's birthday with a large chocolate cake and a viewing of FotR Extended. Hurrah for JRR!