All good conspiracies are grounded in a solid motivation. Last night's conspiracy to host a 50th birthday party for Scott Fairty was no exception. When Scott was hired as Geneva Kayak Center's general manager a few years back, Chicago paddling instructors knew our students wouldn't be the only beneficiaries. We, too, had a new mentor--one who soon also became a paddling partner and friend.
Part one of the conspiracy was the party, attended by various local paddlers as well as Scott's three kids and his father, Jack.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XrFVlWflo0hV6zQmvIrx8lcPmdzBF3FgT9fu4DVkZ90_Eq5OySIFz2vUxzkDj9XRAUa6FiMSUgDixpxCQf_4eNxowMrzGTzU4ENcP-99J0S_qC96w6K4EgvwJKa0Lc8VsoGGmqK9ay-b/s400/fairtykids.jpg) |
Caitlin, Gordon and Tara Fairty. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P-WpkFWBNp0szObpdvLqaHMsk_yWhXppS2-ZwMdIjclkleNMZnZ59g6-uUFnOwz9TeO7K38xyRCEUMRGFiBPOhPknr_Xro3bXGa0C00KQQXyJZjCIk0h3znw2zsc51YQQgS-W7lxm2Nu/s400/jack.jpg) |
Jack Fairty, who drove in for the occasion. |
Part two was the gift: Dozens of instructors, students and friends pitched in to buy Scott a new whitewater boat: A
Pyranha Varun. (A huge thanks to
Kelly Blades and
Pyranha for facilitating the purchase.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhpkQj2YWWlCqgyTOEQFPPO_7DKZqTgjEJiQDv9sgdFbIErA6iFa9AcCqA3Ao6GP1T-jc846jaTDFTJenX8P2KCqXbJdQf-1hGr9sP8sRiGNCOofuaOv3qeAFuaJqdGzyt3LPUC0Dh6Zo/s400/openingcard.jpg) |
Scott begins to realize something is up when the card contains about 40 names.... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7Tt-0u_6Mp5bHMLIEK-q5fxJ7g8opIgvbStsgjO4auYbIWOfccesLROczsZb8eAZPR2MJ45jV-ioOAYW_syFgRx0ZdWtHQljPmGhRRaEXy5Pw6pWKNPDP3TJSPYb144mXshtUFIctKdx/s400/openingbox.jpg) |
...then finds, inside a small box, a model of the boat that will arrive in a week or so. |
No 50th birthday party would be complete without a little ribbing from the kids about Scott's age. "Over the hill!" the cake declared. "Happy birthday, you old fart."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9ssrZQBRtwGVKrXgBT48iSvrHslLs8_WE_V1gPtur1v1YeSG8ck33kev8JCE4IvcONlYa8XUte5lzSYuBdXmaciT-_jlW5meFisIvqdsDOw-srC_tPCyfHoti1OgtvqFsoLBMqa-WoBM/s400/fartcake.jpg) |
Caitlin serves Scott a choice slice of cake. |
There may be nothing magical about celebrating the actual day on which a person was born, but it's a great opportunity to celebrate the person. Scott has brought a lot to the Chicago-area paddling community. We're looking forward to many more years on the water with him.
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