SNAPSHOTS

By IRENE HASKINS

Published Sunday, May 25, 2008

When Walt and Sharon Naylor, accompanied by friends Paul and Karen Dale, walked into the Penguin Piano Bar May 9, Walt spotted sister-in-law Janet Hagen with husband Jeff peering down from the balcony and thought they might be there to celebrate Jeff’s birthday. Coincidentally, it was also Walt’s birthday, and as he climbed the stairs and was met by more than 30 friends and family members, it finally soaked in that everyone was there to surprise him on his big five-oh.

Almost ready for primetime after auditioning at Walt Naylor’s birthday party are, seated, Karen Dale, and from left standing, Walt, wearing his nifty 50 glasses, wife Sharon and Paul Dale. Below, accompanied by the Penguin Piano Bar’s pianist, Walt Naylor performs on stage as part of his 50th birthday celebration.

Immediately he was decked out in “proper” attire: a hat complete with a red flashing light which made it easy for everyone to locate him the rest of the evening; sunglasses shaped in the number 50; and several sets of beads. Tables held balloons, flowers, gag gifts and many cards. Because Walt works at Columbia Avionics, is an amateur pilot and loves airplanes, Sharon had a cake designed that held a white chocolate bi-wing airplane pulling a banner with Walt’s name on it flying toward mountains with the caption “Watch Out – Big Hill Ahead.”

Walt was requested to come to the stage — with his cake — and as the routine at this club goes, be ready to be humiliated in front of friends and strangers. Before long, the piano players had him pulling his wife on stage to perform a couple’s dance best not described in this column — watch for them on “Dancing With the Stars.” Walt thanked everyone profusely for pulling off such a surprise, but more than that, he appreciated getting to see and rub shoulders with the University of Missouri calendar girls.

Friends enjoying all this frivolity also included Hope and Joe Burkart; Janet and Norman Williams; Tammy Canton; Cheryl and Mike Gregory; Phil and Karen Wulff; Paul and Karen Dale; Eric and Debby Shimp; Ashly Wunderlich; Keith Strumpler; Shad and Brittney Sones; Chris Gilmore; Lance Fox; Jason and Dawn Thurnau; Rick and Amy Endecott; Lewis Baines; Kathryn Eveland; Marvin McGeorge; Dan and Cory Prasch; Mike and Amy Mills; Parker and Dana Naylor; and Benton Naylor.

Continuing the celebration,

Walt enjoyed a memorable present from his in-laws, Helen and Bill Wulff, when he was treated to a private one-hour sightseeing flight all over Mid-Missouri, last Sunday.

Uh, in all the partying for Walt, did anyone sing “Happy Birthday” to Jeff Hagan?

Like a teenager’s tummy, Snapshots is a bottomless pit requiring constant feeding. We can’t fill this column unless readers provide the filler. To contribute news of special occasions, parties, travel tidbits, stupid people tricks, snippets of even questionable redeeming social value or any gossip in good taste, call Irene at 815-1721. Items may also be mailed to Snapshots, c/o the Tribune; dropped off in the newsroom; or e-mailed to ihaskins@tribmail.com. Include daytime phone number and photo identifications … no large group shots, please. All pictures will be returned.